The six parties to talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue would advance a joint document "some time in the future," Japanese top negotiator said Friday.  

"The negotiation has entered into a vital stage, and a joint document is expected some time in the future," said Kenichiroand Sasae.

According to him, the US and North Korean delegations held one-on-one consultations this morning.

Chief negotiators of the six parties would meet Friday afternoon to discuss what had come out of the US-North Korea bilateral talks and how to further the six-party talks, Sasae told reporters.

He did not confirm or deny whether there would be a Japan-North Korea consultation.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)