The Japanese delegation hoped that the ongoing fourth round of six-party talks would achieve a good breakthrough in next 24 hours, said a Japanese official Thursday night.  

The Japanese official said so in response to the US chief delegate States Christopher Hill's remarks earlier Thursday hoping the process of producing a joint statement could begin within 24 hours.

The official told a news briefing that the one-on-one meeting between North Korea and the US earlier Thursday was the major content of the agenda of yesterday's six-party talks.

The US and North Korean delegations held their third one-on-one meeting for about three hours yesterday morning, longer than the previous two bilateral meetings.

The Japanese delegation expects progress could be achieved in the bilateral consultations between North Korea and the US, the official said.

The two sides are expected to hold their fourth one-on-one talks this morning.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)