Beijing ? North Korea criticized the United States for insisting it give up all its nuclear programs without receiving any concessions first, saying Friday it will keep up with its atomic development until given a reactor in exchange for abandoning weapons development.

Striving to bridge the impasse, China proposed a revised draft agreement at the six-nation arms talks, affirming Pyongyang’s right to civilian nuclear technology. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted Washington’s patience is running out.

There was no direct response from North Korea or the United States to the new proposal, but delegates were supposed to give their input by Saturday afternoon, negotiators said. Russia’s chief envoy said there was a possibility the talks then would go into recess.

The North so far has spurned an offer of economic aid, security guarantees, diplomatic recognition and energy aid from South Korea, saying it wants a light-water nuclear reactor for generating power in return for dismantling its atomic weapons program.

Washington has insisted the North cannot be trusted with any nuclear program given its history of pursuing atomic bombs and has refused to budge from demanding that the North disarm first before any concessions are made.