Delegates to the six-nation nuclear talks are in Beijing, huddling in last-minute bilateral consultations before Wednesday's opening of the talks.

South Korea's chief delegate, deputy foreign minister Lee Soo-hyuck arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon leading a five-member South Korean delegation. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly and Japanese Foreign Ministry Director-General Mitoji Yabunaka arrived in Beijing Monday after coordinating views with their South Korean counterpart in Seoul.

Host China met the U.S. and North Korean delegations, and the Russians met the Japanese and, later, the American delegates. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov held one-on-one talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi upon his arrival earlier on Monday. The chief delegates of South and North Korea held separate bilateral talks with the delegates of China and Russia, respectively.

North Korea sounded an upbeat note on Tuesday on the eve of six-party talks, saying the circumstances were better than at the first round in August.

As he left Pyongyang for Beijing, North Korea's chief delegate, Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gye-gwan, was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that his delegation will do their best to make a good result at the talks.

The delegates from the six countries are meeting in an unofficial dinner at the Diaoyutai state guest house Tuesday evening. The function will be followed by a full session Wednesday morning.