Related report: Six-party talks - 3rd phase of 5th round

    BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue may be extended to Tuesday, an official with the Republic of Korea (ROK) delegation said Monday.

    On condition of anonymity, the official said the parties held aseries of bilateral contacts on Monday afternoon, exchanging views in a "candid" atmosphere.

    The envoys from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States held one-on-one consultations, said the official.

    Up to now, host China has not disclosed when the talks will conclude, as the six parties were attempting to seal an agreement at the fifth day of the talks, with energy aid for the DPRK still being the focus of negotiations.

    China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Japan and Russia reconvened the talks on Thursday in Beijing in the wake of a 48-day recess.