U.S. chief negotiator to the six-party talks Christopher Hill said in Beijing Monday that the six-party talks will reopen very soon.

Hill made the remarks before heading for Washington to brief on the Berlin talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States.

"We hope that the Chinese government will be able to announce soon the start-up of the talks," said Hill, adding that China would first have to do consultations with all other parties before setting a fixed date.

Hill said "our sense is everybody will be ready very soon."

The countries to the six-party talks aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue are China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia.

The last session of the talks was held in Beijing in December 2006 without making any breakthrough.

Hill said there lies a basis for making progress in the six-party talks.

"Based on the consultation we had in the last week or so, I think we have a basis for getting together as soon as possible in the six-party process and making progress," he said.

Asked about the U.S.-DPRK talks on the financial sanctions issue, Hill said the talks would also be held very soon, "probably either at the same time or even before the six party talks."

However, no confirmation was given by Hill on the date and venue for the financial talks.

The United States and the DPRK will "come up with a place" and "finetune a day" for the talks, Hill said, adding "that will not be a problem."

Hill came to Beijing on Sunday and met with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei.

Hill said he had lengthy discussions last night with Wu, and the two agreed on the need to try to get the six-party talks going as soon as possible.

Asked whether he is optimistic about the prospect of the talks, Hill said, "I'd rather not make a bet on the game that I'm playing in."

In the meantime, Hill made a rare expression of regret by saying "we felt that we should have done more in the December round."

Prior to his arrival in the Chinese capital, Hill visited Seoul and Tokyo.

Hill told officials in Tokyo that the United States and the DPRK agreed to restart the talks as soon as possible and strive for concrete progress.

The United States and the DPRK held one-on-one talks in Berlin from Tuesday to Thursday last week. Hill described his meeting with Kim Kye Gwan as "very useful."

Kim Kye Gwan and Chun Yung Woo, chief negotiators from the DPRK and the ROK, arrived in Beijing on Monday morning and afternoon. Kim did not say anything upon his arrival. Chun said he was to meet Wu Dawei on Tuesday and he might see Kim since they were in the same city.

Before the Beijing tour, Kim visited Russia and discussed with Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov on the resumption of the six-party talks.

Source: Xinhua