Christopher Hill, top US negotiator at the six-party talks in Beijing, said in Washington Wednesday that the US will try to reach a nuclear agreement with North Korea as early as September.

During the fourth round of six-party talks in Beijing, "we tried to focus on reaching an agreement on principles, so that we could use those principles to shape the way ahead and try to reach an agreement as early as September," Hill said at a briefing.

"We are hoping that if we can get through these principles, we can get going with an actual agreement in September, or the latest in October and see if we can finally put this terrible problem to bed," Hill said.

Hill also reiterated the US stance that North Korea should dismantle all its nuclear programs.

The fourth round of six-party talks, which lasted for 13 days in Beijing, went into recess on Sunday. All parties have agreed to resume the talks in the week beginning August 29.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2005)