It looks like top envoys involved in talks to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program could be getting together once again in the coming weeks. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who heads Washington's delegation to the six-party talks, says China is expected to make an announcement soon on when the negotiations will resume.

"I had lengthy discussions last night with my counterpart Wu Dawei,” Hill said. “We agreed on the need to try to get the six-party talks going as soon as possible. He will talk to the other participants and we hope that the Chinese government will be able to announce soon the start-up of the talks."

Before leaving Beijing Monday, Washington's nuclear envoy said he expects the six-way dialog to reconvene "in the next couple of weeks." Sources say an announcement firming that date could come as early as this week.

South Korea's envoy Chun Yung-woo arrived in Beijing Monday afternoon to discuss a date and prepare for the next multiparty dialogue. Also in Beijing is North Korea's point man Kim Kye-gwan. Some Seoul officials have said that the week of Feb. 5 is a likely time for the next round.

Ambassador Hill wrapped up a Northeast Asia tour of South Korea, Japan and China after meeting one-on-one with his North Korean counterpart in Berlin last week. He assessed the Berlin talks as "useful" and positive.

But experts say the real task is to achieve substantial progress when the parties converge in Beijing. And a big question mark lingers over how North Korea will respond to a proposal to swap nuclear dismantlement for economic aid.

Another key issue for negotiators is the financial dispute between Washington and Pyongyang that has continued to stalemate progress in the nuclear dialog. Two-way talks on the matter are expected to take place as early as this week but here again a date and venue have yet to be named.

Arirang News