Foreign Minister Song Min-soon and U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill have discussed initial steps for North Korea's nuclear dismantlement.

In a Sunday meeting in Seoul, the two officials spoke on how to implement the 2005 joint statement agreed to by the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

Hill arrived at Incheon International Airport Saturday, and said he hopes for progress in the six-party talks and for real changes toward disarmament by North Korea.

The talks will resume Thursday in Beijing.

Hill said each party's duties must be written down, adding he hopes host China can draw up a document on which all six sides can agree.

He said Washington's row with Pyongyang over US financial sanctions have some bearing on the talks, though the dispute is not directly related to the nuclear dialogue.