US expects substantial progress from six-party talks

BEIJING, Oct 31 (Reuters) US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said today that the United States expected ''substantial progress'' from the next round of six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Speaking at a news conference, Hill said North Korea had made no explicit promises that it would conduct no further nuclear tests. He added that the United Nations Security Council resolution on North Korea remained in force.

''I think it's self-evident they should not engage in such provocations,'' he said of further tests.

Besides the United States, China and North Korea, the other three countries in the talks are South Korea, Japan and Russia.

The UN Security Council voted on October. 14 to impose financial and arms sanctions on North Korea after it staged its first nuclear test on October. 9.

REUTERS AKJ RK1918