"I firmly believe one thing, and that is that people's aspirations cannot be violated because everyone in the world wants to see a peaceful, stable and nuclear free Korean peninsula," Li told journalists.

"We have confidence that thanks to the patient and flexible efforts of the various parties, the six-party talks will be carried forward, despite that we are quite sure that some problems will be unavoidable."

The fifth round of the talks are due to begin in Beijing on November 9.

At the last round in September the six sides issued a joint statement of purpose agreeing to verifiably scrap North Korea's nuclear programs in exchange for energy assistance and other benefits.

However, sharp differences remain in the talks, which include hosts China, the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia, over the sequence in which the highly technical process will be done.

"It is fair to say that the joint statement is a very important step in a 10,000 li (mile) march, it is very good and it has not come by easily," Li said.

He said he was buoyed by the commitment that the United States, North Korea and Russia have voiced in recent days to move the process forward and lightheartedly revealed some of the "difficulties along the way".

"During the fourth round, which was divided into two sections, (we calculated that it) added up to 2,500 cappuccinos (coffees) consumed by all the participants and staff members," Li said.

"Another estimate put it at 4,000 cappuccinos, all these cappuccinos were of course at my cost and were imported from EU countries. So we indeed contribute to the talks."

Li predicted next week's round of talks would need less coffee, further reflecting views that September's joint statement of objectives was a crucial hurdle in the long-winded process.

A senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity said Thursday North Korea could submit a plan to dismantle its nuclear weapons arsenal at the talks.

"If the North Korean government arrives at the table and says: 'here is our plan for dismantling our nuclear programs, and our plan for a nuclear free peninsula', and that is on its face acceptable to all the other governments, then clearly that would merit further and intensive discussions," he said.

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