The latest crisis erupted in October 2002 when Washington said it had evidence the North was pursuing a clandestine programme to develop nuclear weapons. International arms inspectors were expelled that New Year's Eve.

In 2005, North Korea announced it was pulling out of the talks and declared itself a nuclear state in February, on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

HEADING FOR A DING-DONG?

Chinese traditionally travel far and wide to spend the New Year holiday with family over meals of dumplings. But Foreign Ministry officials had to turn around and return to Beijing, where lights burned at the ministry late into the night.

North Korea tried to schedule a meeting with Hill this year in late November, but the US envoy passed and instead left Beijing to get home in time for Thanksgiving, diplomats said.

It would not be the first holiday spent at the negotiating table.

Last year, the September talks at which North Korea agreed to scrap its nuclear weapons programmes in exchange for aid and security guarantees, dragged through Chusok, one of Korea's most important holidays, and the Chinese mid-autumn festival.

China's Foreign Ministry offered up traditional mooncakes to the talks envoys as a sweetener.

As talks drag on this week, it remains to be seen whether frustrated envoys will take Boxing Day literally.

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