Working groups from the six nations involved in the North Korean nuclear talks will likely get together in Beijing the week of March 12th to discuss the initial steps for Pyongyang's denuclearization.

The Feb. 13th agreement calls for South and North Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia to set up working groups within 30 days to begin dismantling the North's nuclear facilities.

Three of the five working groups the countries agreed to establish will meet in Beijing during the week of March 12th to discuss the North's denuclearization, economic incentives and a peace scheme for Northeast Asia, the official said.

The other two working groups will deal with bilateral issues between North Korea and the U.S. and Japan, particularly the normalization of diplomatic relations.

The chief nuclear envoys to the six-party talks, including Vice Foreign Minister Chun Young-woo and his U.S. counterpart, Christopher Hill, will likely chair each of the working groups.

South Korea will chair a working group on providing economic and energy incentives for North Korea, while China will be responsible for a group on the North's denuclearization. Russia will head a group concerned with peace and security in Northeast Asia.