"(North Korea's disarmament plan) is under implementation. The pace is faster in some areas and slower in others. This is normal," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said when asked about the missed deadline.

"China hopes and expects the various parties can continue to honour their commitments in earnest."

Pyongyang was supposed to have completed the disablement of its nuclear plants and hand over a complete declaration of all its nuclear programmes and material by December 31.

But the United States has said neither deadline was met.

North Korea agreed last February to give up its nuclear weapons programmes in return for one million tons of fuel oil or equivalent energy aid, diplomatic benefits and security guarantees.

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