"This time period has been floated, we are discussing this date in internal consultations," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

China early Tuesday said it had proposed a date to the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia for the next round of talks and was awaiting confirmation from all sides.

Foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan refused to give the proposed date.

The last round of talks ended in September with a statement of principles under which North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons program in return for energy and security guarantees.

But Pyongyang later warned it would not dismantle its nuclear arsenal before the United States supplies it with a light-water atomic reactor to generate electricity.

The United States says North Korea must first disarm.

Japan's Kyodo News agency, quoting diplomatic sources in Beijing, also said the talks are likely to resume on November 9.

It said there were divisions on whether the talks should have a deadline of three to four days or be open-ended as was the previous marathon round.

The US negotiator to the talks, Christopher Hill, arrived Sunday in South Korea, while North Korean and Japanese diplomats were due to hold bilateral talks in Beijing beginning Thursday.

"China's ambassador on the Korean Peninsula issue Li Bin just concluded his visit to the DPRK (North Korea), ROK (South Korea) and the United States," Kong said.

"His major task was to consult with the other sides on the preparations for the next round of the six-party talks."

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Il pledged to return to the talks when he received Chinese President Hu Jintao on a three-day visit that ended Sunday.

Thursday's talks in Beijing between Japan and North Korea on normalising relations have been suspended for a year.

Along with North Korea's nuclear crisis, Japan will bring up Pyongyang's missile programs and the kidnapping of Japanese nationals, while North Korea is expected to raise issues relating to Japan's past military aggression.

"If the DPRK and Japan can resolve the issues left over from history through consultations, then we will take a supportive attitude," Kong said.

"If they need help or facilitation during their consultations in Beijing, we will fulfill our responsibilities as host."

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