Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon arrived in Beijing Saturday to take part in the six-party nuclear talks that start Tuesday.

At the airport, he told reporters that his delegation will focus on securing a foothold for resolving the standoff through the talks.

Song will hold Monday preliminary meetings with top delegates from the other parties including North Korea's Kim Gye-kwan, who will also arrive Saturday.

Set to arrive Sunday are other South Korean negotiators, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and the Japanese delegation.

The Russian delegation will arrive Monday.

The parties have not set a time limit for the talks in a bid to produce substantial progress.