All six parties are expecting to sign a common document during
the second phase of the current round of six-party talks, chief
negotiator of South Korean Song Min-soon said in Beijing
Tuesday.
Song told reporters Tuesday evening the heads of six delegations
did not touch upon any substantial issues in their meeting this
afternoon. However, all of them demonstrated strong desire for a
common document on the basis of the draft made by China in the
first phase talks.
The chief negotiators also agreed to hold a meeting of
delegation heads every day besides bilateral contacts in a bid to
push forward the talks, he said.
South Korea holds that the six parties should reach consensus as
soon as possible on a common document on the denuclearization of
the Korean Peninsula, said Song.
Upon arrival in Beijing Tuesday morning, the South Korean
delegation held one-on-one consultations with the delegations of
China and North Korea.
South and North Korean delegations exchanged views on various
issues including that of the light-water reactor, which will be the
"focus" of the ongoing phase of the talks, said Song.
South Korea is going to have bilateral meetings with Russia,
Japan and the US Wednesday, he said.
According to Song, the current phase of talks will at least
stretch into Thursday and the closing date will be discussed on
Friday with regard to the progress of the talks.
The fourth round of the six-party talks, involving China, North
Korea, the US, South Korea, Russia and Japan, began in late July.
But it went into a recess after 13 days, as negotiations came to an
impasse.
(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2005)