Senior members of South Korea's National Security Council have discussed ways to promptly resume stalled six-nation talks on settling North Korea's nuclear standoff.

In a meeting presided over by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Saturday, security officials also discussed follow-up measures to recent visits by President Roh Moo-hyun to Asia and Europe, during which he pledged to continue efforts to peacefully resolve the North's nuclear impasse.

The meeting of top security officials was convened as Minister Chung is set to visit China next week and ask for Beijing's cooperation in promptly reopening the nuclear negotiations.

Also on hand at Saturday's meeting were Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung and Vice Foreign Minister Choi Young-jin.