North Korea has made due preparation for discussing initial steps of denuclearization during the pending session of six-party talks, North Korean top envoy Kim Kye-gwan said in Beijing Thursday.

Kim made the remarks upon arrival at the airport Thursday. "We are neither optimist nor pessimist because there are still a lot of problems to be resolved," Kim told reporters at the airport.

"We will judge the success of the talks by the standard that whether the United States will give up hostile policy and follow peaceful coexistence," said Kim.

The third phase of the fifth round six-party talks is scheduled to open at 16:20, Thursday. All the six delegations to the talks, namely China, North Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia, have been in Beijing.

Before the opening ceremony, China and North Korea, and ROK and Japan will hold bilateral meetings respectively, followed by a top negotiators' meeting.

The delegations have held frequent bilateral meetings after arrival, sending messages of high expectation for this session of talks.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2007)