"We believe all parties involved are willing to continue pushing forward the process of the talks, to peacefully solve the nuclear issue through dialogue," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It is inevitable that differences emerge among the parties involved during the talks, it is normal.

"We hope all parties involved will adopt a calm, practical and flexible attitude in dealing with each other's differences in an appropriate way and continue pushing forward the process of the talks."

North Korea hinted through its official media this week that it might not attend a next round of multi-party talks expected by the end of September because of what it called the hardline US stance.

Washington played down Pyongyang's statements and China's ambassador to the Korean peninsula, Ning Fukui, insisted Tuesday that North Korea would not abandon the talks.

"I think North Korea won't, under the current circumstances, pull out of the six-party process," Ning told reporters in Beijing after meeting with senior North Korean officials.

"North Korea didn't say they won't join, they are just currently stating the differences between North Korea and the US."

A third round of talks which brought together the United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia in Beijing in an effort to resolve the impasse ended in June without tangible progress.

The United States tabled a plan then giving Pyongyang three months to shut down and seal its nuclear weapons facilities in return for economic and diplomatic rewards and security guarantees.

North Korea appears to have rejected that outright.

In an attempt to convince Pyongyang to accept a deal, close US ally Australia has sent Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to North Korea.

Downer was met by foreign affairs officials in Pyongyang late Tuesday and is expected to impress upon North Korea that abandoning its nuclear program would lead to "great opportunities," including aid.

WAR.WIRE