Beijing ? The United States and North Korea urged each other to make concessions as a round of six-nation talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear programs concluded Friday with no sign of progress or a date to meet again.

The chief U.S. envoy called for the North to shut down a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor. The North’s delegate insisted that Washington lift sanctions on companies accused of weapons proliferation.

There was no indication of progress toward the goal set by host China for this week’s talks – agreeing on details of how to carry out North Korea’s pledge in September to give up its nuclear program in exchange for aid and a security guarantee.

The competing demands highlight the key dispute in the talks – North Korea’s insistence on receiving compensation before it disarms completely, and Washington’s refusal to reward Pyongyang until that goal is accomplished.

North Korea also wants a light-water civilian nuclear reactor for power generation before it disarms. But Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. envoy, said the other governments agreed that they should not even discuss that until the North’s other programs are dismantled.