BEIJING – The next round of six-nation talks on the dispute over North Korea's nuclear program will begin Nov. 9 in Beijing (search), China's foreign ministry announced Thursday.
The date was announced by ministry spokesman Kong Quan at a regular news briefing.
The talks include the two Koreas, host China, the United States, Japan and Russia.
The last round ended in September with a pledge by North Korea to give up its nuclear programs in exchange for aid and security guarantees.
However, less than a day later the North cast doubts on its promise, demanding a civilian nuclear reactor for power generation before it disarms.
But North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (search) promised visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (search) last weekend that the North would go ahead with the fifth round of talks scheduled for this month.
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