Beijing ? North Korea insisted Tuesday it will not give up its right to civilian nuclear programs, raising questions about the possibility of a breakthrough as six-nation talks aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its atomic weapons resumed after a five-week recess.

Envoys from China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas clasped hands together at a state guesthouse in Beijing before continuing the fourth round of talks since 2003 that have so far failed to resolve the standoff.

Last month, negotiators took a break after a record 13 days of meetings ended without agreement on a statement of principles on the North’s disarmament.

In New York on Tuesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao told President Bush that China was ready to “step up” pressure on Pyongyang for progress in the negotiations.

“We stand ready to step up our communication and cooperation” to gain fresh progress in negotiations aimed at halting North Korea’s nuclear program, he said.

Last month, negotiators took a break after a record 13 days of meetings ended without agreement. The main U.S. negotiator said it would likely be shorter than last time.

Negotiators for the six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear crisis join hands before the start of a banquet meeting Tuesday in Beijing. North Korea insisted Tuesday it will not give up its right to civilian nuclear programs.

“We should be able to wrap this up in a matter of days, not weeks,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said Tuesday evening.

South Korea’s head negotiator Song Min-soon agreed, saying talks would continue until Friday at least and then all parties would consult on a possible closing date, according to official Xinhua News Agency.

The issue of the North’s peaceful nuclear program will be raised at the talks but Hill emphasized the focus is on ridding the North of atomic weapons.

“The fundamental question is whether (North Korea) is prepared to abandon its nuclear programs,” he said, noting those programs are involved in production of materials for nuclear weapons.

Hill saw the North Korean delegation briefly Tuesday and said he planned a full one-on-one session with them today where their views would be made known.