These officials said on November 1 that the RoK is actively preparing for high-level meetings with the US, China, Japan and Russia on the sidelines of the APEC Meeting in Hanoi on November 18-19.

The same day, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov confirmed that the six-party talks will resume late this year and China could be selected to host the event.

Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush said that the talks should be held as soon as possible and that the US will send two senior officials from the US Department of State to the region to discuss formalities for the talks and ensure that the UN sanctions on the DPRK are under way. The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on the DPRK following its nuclear test on October 9.

Pyongyang confirmed on November 1 that it will return to the six-party talks and discuss the lifting of the US’s financial sanctions.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso welcomed Pyongyang’s decision, but added that Japan will maintain sanctions on Pyongyang unless it gives up all its nuclear activities.