Beijing has indicated Tuesday that North Korea will wrap up its nuclear dismantlement operations by year’s end as promised but fail to meet the deadline for the declaration of its nuclear programs.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a regular news briefing that dismantlement procedures at the North’s Yongbyon reactor site are in progress and will be mostly concluded by the end of this year.

The foreign ministry, however, failed to speak on the issue of the North’s nuclear declaration, indicating that Pyongyang will not likely be able to meet its deadline.

The spokesman added that the five countries involved in the six-party talks are positive and active about providing the North with energy as promised in a nuclear agreement. He said the parties will send aid progressively in return for Pyongyang’s nuclear dismantlement and declaration of nuclear programs.

North Korea agreed in October’s six-party talks that it will dismantle its nuclear facilities and carry out a complete and accurate declaration of its nuclear programs by year’s end.

Pyongyang and the U.S. have showed signs of disagreement over the issue of the North’s alleged uranium enrichment program (UEP).

The countries involved in the multilateral talks have expressed the importance of a complete and accurate declaration over Pyongyang meeting its deadline.