Top US envoy to next week's six-party talks says that the United States wants "significant progress" in the meeting.
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters that the US is indeed looking for measurable progress in the talks.
 "In this first round, which starts over the weekend, we want to show some significant progress and in that regard we have had an extremely active calendar of diplomacy in the weeks leading to this, aimed at trying to make sure we have a consensus from all the parties on the need for specific progress in the implementation of the September statement."
The purpose, he adds, is to implement a September 2005 agreement in which North Korea pledged to scrap its pursuit of nuclear technology in exchange for energy and aid.
Hill also says it has not been determined how long the round will last, but he will stay next week in Beijing and meet over the weekend with his counterparts, including the North Korean delegate.
North Korea walked away from the talks 13 months ago, but they are set to resume Monday in Beijing.
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Director: Liu Chi