US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Japan that Washington would not remove the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from a US list of state sponsors of terrorism on the initial deadline, which fell on yesterday, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said.

The White House had made clear that it did not expect a deal with Pyongyang yesterday for presenting a verification plan for its nuclear program, but it had said talks would continue.

The delay was likely to be welcome in Japan, where many are concerned that an easing of US sanctions against Pyongyang would lessen Tokyo's chances of settling a feud over its citizens abducted by DPRK agents decades ago.