Chinese top nuclear negotiator and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei (1st R, front) addresses a fresh round of talks on the denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on Dec. 8, 2008. [Wang Jianhua/Xinhua]

The DPRK agreed last year to disable its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in exchange for aid.

But Pyongyang recently denied agreeing to allow inspectors to take samples from Yongbyon to verify past activities.

Negotiators hope to push forward the process of the six-party talks. But they expect the process to be difficult.