Hanoi - Early December is the likely date for the next round of six-nation talks to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme, said chief US negotiator to the discussions Christopher Hill in Hanoi Wednesday.
"It's difficult to be in November but I think that its more realistic to be in December," said the US assistant secretary of state after meeting with his counterpart from South Korea, Chun Yung Woo, and Kenichiro Sasae of Japan to discuss the framework for the talks.
"We had a good agreement on how to approach the next round, which we want to be substantive and successful," said Hill, who added that it was ultimately up to the Chinese to set the date for the next round of six-party talks on North Korea.
"I think we are making very good progress," said Chun. "I think all messages will be delivered to North Korea in the six party talks," he added.
Of the six countries involved in the talks - the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia - five nations are taking part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hanoi this week. North Korea isn't part of the 21-member APEC.
"We've all made it very clear that we don't accept North Korea as a nuclear state," said Hill, adding that the goal of the talks is to have North Korea honour its commitments as a non-nuclear state.
The UN Security Council had imposed sanctions against Pyongyang after its first nuclear test on October 9. During secret negotiations with the US and China in Beijing last week, North Korea agreed to return to six-nations talks soon, but an exact date has yet to be set. The talks have been stalled for more than a year.