South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday said his country will try best to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Roh made the remarks when he was delivering his speech at the New Year's press conference at the Presidential Office.

China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan have held five rounds of the six-party nuclear talks since 2003, tying to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

When answering question raised by reporters, Roh also underscored that South Korea and the U.S. currently have no difference over the principle of the settlement of the nuclear issue.

However, the South Korean president said there would be a difference of opinion between his government and the U.S. government if the latter try to topple the DPRK's regime.

"The South Korean government does not agree with certain opinions in the U.S., which seem to be trying to pressure North Korea (DPRK) by raising issues about its regime, and often appear to be looking for the collapse of the DPRK regime.

"If the U.S. tries to resolve the problem through such means, there will be friction, or a difference of opinion, between the South Korean and U.S. governments," Roh said.

In his speech, the South Korean president also said his government will make concrete preparation to have talks with involving nations on building "peace regime" on the Korean Peninsula.

In the White Paper on Korean Unification 2005, Seoul government expressed its intention to sign a peace treaty with the DPRK to replace the Armistice Treaty signed after the end of the Korean War (1950-1953 in which South Korea's name was excluded.

Meanwhile, in the Joint Statement adopted at the end of fourth round of six-party talks held in September 2005, the six nations agreed on launching separate forum involving "directly related parties" to negotiate a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

Source: Xinhua