The South Korean foreign minister said Thursday that diplomacy to resolve the nuclear standoff is now at a "crucial stage."

"All the participating countries are now making utmost efforts to come up with their own ideas and coordinate with each other on them," said Yoon Young-kwan during a speech at a luncheon with foreign diplomats stationed in Seoul.

"We are at a crucial stage in that all the participants know what is at issue and are trying hard to narrow their differences," he said.

Yoon said all the concerned parties share a belief that the issue should be resolved through diplomacy, but warned against being "overly optimistic" about the prospects for the talks.

"We face difficult and complicated issues that will require long and patient negotiations," he said.

China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan held the first round of nuclear talks in August in Beijing.

Previously there were various reports in concerning countries that the second nuclear talks may be held on Dec. 17-19. However, US officials openly indicated lately that the new round nuclear talks may be delayed.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)