North Korea

South Korea says it hopes all parties to the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program will take active steps to ensure the success of the next round of negotiations.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon also said Wednesday in Seoul that his chief nuclear negotiator, Song Min-soon will visit China and the United States before the next round of talks with North Korea.

In Washington Tuesday, the chief U.S. delegate to the talks, Christopher Hill, said Pyongyang's agreement last month to abandon its nuclear programs could lead to regional peace and the eventual reunification of the Korean peninsula.

Mr. Hill also said his staff has held direct talks with North Korean diplomats in New York.

The fifth round of six-nation talks is scheduled for early next month in Beijing.