Japan expects the six-nation talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to resume in the week beginning September 12 as Pyongyang has proposed, Japan's top spokesman said Wednesday.

"I think they will be held as the parties concerned have signaled that direction," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda told a press conference.

Hosoda expressed regret at the postponement in reopening the talks as initially planned this week, and attributed the delay to a large perception gap between the US and North Korea on the nuclear issue.

But he welcomed that the resumption is proceeding and called again for an early resolution of the issue.

The fourth round of talks began in late July after a 13-month stop, but went into a recess August 7 with an agreement to restart in the week starting August 29.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2005)