New Korean nuclear talks on Dec 8: Rice

The next round of six-nation talks on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear program will be held on Dec 8 in China, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday.

The aim of the round would be an agreement on verification of the DPRK's disarmament steps, Rice told reporters aboard Air Force One. She said she would make no predictions whether a deal would be reached.

That leaves it uncertain whether the talks would be resolved before Us President George W. Bush leaves office in January.