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)