Korea nuclear talks 'make progress' ...South Korea's envoy to the negotiations, Chun Yung-woo, said: "We have confirmed that there is a consensus among the countries that there must be an agreement on the early steps on implementing the September 19 joint statement at this round [of negotiations]."

He was referring to the North's agreement with the five other countries in September 2005, so far not implemented, to stop its nuclear weapons programme in return for economic and security concessions.

Christopher Hill, the US chief delegate, said the six parties were "coalescing around some of the themes" that would be part of an initial agreement, and also said China may start circulating something "either later tonight or tomorrow morning".

"We hope we can achieve some sort of joint statement," he said. Aljazeera