N. Korea Hints It May Agree to U.S. Talks
Associated Press ^ | 4-12-03 | By JAE-SUK YOO
SEOUL, South Korea, Apr 12, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- North Korea hinted Saturday that it would accept U.S. demands for multilateral talks to discuss the communist country's suspected nuclear weapons program.
"If the U.S. is ready to make a bold switchover in its Korea policy for a settlement of the nuclear issue, the DPRK will not stick to any particular dialogue format," a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official KCNA news agency.
DPRK stands for Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
Until now, Pyongyang has insisted on direct talks with Washington to negotiate a nonaggression treaty. It sees the issue as a narrow dispute with the United States and President Bush, who has called North Korea part of an "axis of evil."
U.S. officials argue that North Korea poses a global danger. They have rejected one-on-one talks, saying the standoff should be solved with the participation of other countries. Russia, China, Japan and South Korea could all be threatened if North Korea starts building nuclear weapons, they say.
"The solution to the issue depends on what is the real intention of the U.S.," the North Korean spokesman was quoted as saying. KCNA did not identify him by name.
"It is possible to solve the issue if the U.S. sincerely approaches the dialogue," the spokesman added. "What matters is the U.S."
The comments were of a much softer tone than other remarks from North Korea in recent weeks. It has repeatedly accused the United States of planning to invade the communist country once it is done fighting in Iraq.
It has warned this would lead to nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea's possible change in position came as the United States is expected to shift more attention toward it as the war in Iraq nears a conclusion.
On Friday, North Korea said it would never give up its nuclear programs. The North compared U.N. inspections to "taking off our pants" and giving Washington an excuse to invade.
Bush has said he seeks to resolve the nuclear standoff with North Korea diplomatically, but has not ruled out a military solution.
The standoff flared in October when U.S. officials said North Korea admitted it had a clandestine nuclear program in violation of a 1994 agreement with the United States.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday urged North Korea to hold talks to resolve the crisis.
"When the North comes out as a responsible member of the international community, we and the international community will not hold back on all necessary assistance," Roh's office quoted the president as saying.
South Korea, which is a close ally of the United States, hopes to persuade isolated North Korea to scrap its nuclear programs in return for aid and better ties with the outside world.
Roh, who took office in February, said he would discuss the issue with Bush when he visits Washington next month for their first summit. He said he also plans to meet with the leaders of China, Russia and Japan soon.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly inspected a military base on Friday.
The North's KCNA news agency said Saturday that Kim inspected Unit 205 of the Korean People's Army and told officers there, "No forces on earth can match this might of the People's Army." KCNA earlier reported that Kim visited an air force base Thursday.
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Associated Press ^ | 4-12-03 | By JAE-SUK YOO
SEOUL, South Korea, Apr 12, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- North Korea hinted Saturday that it would accept U.S. demands for multilateral talks to discuss the communist country's suspected nuclear weapons program.
"If the U.S. is ready to make a bold switchover in its Korea policy for a settlement of the nuclear issue, the DPRK will not stick to any particular dialogue format," a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official KCNA news agency.
DPRK stands for Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
Until now, Pyongyang has insisted on direct talks with Washington to negotiate a nonaggression treaty. It sees the issue as a narrow dispute with the United States and President Bush, who has called North Korea part of an "axis of evil."
U.S. officials argue that North Korea poses a global danger. They have rejected one-on-one talks, saying the standoff should be solved with the participation of other countries. Russia, China, Japan and South Korea could all be threatened if North Korea starts building nuclear weapons, they say.
"The solution to the issue depends on what is the real intention of the U.S.," the North Korean spokesman was quoted as saying. KCNA did not identify him by name.
"It is possible to solve the issue if the U.S. sincerely approaches the dialogue," the spokesman added. "What matters is the U.S."
The comments were of a much softer tone than other remarks from North Korea in recent weeks. It has repeatedly accused the United States of planning to invade the communist country once it is done fighting in Iraq.
It has warned this would lead to nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea's possible change in position came as the United States is expected to shift more attention toward it as the war in Iraq nears a conclusion.
On Friday, North Korea said it would never give up its nuclear programs. The North compared U.N. inspections to "taking off our pants" and giving Washington an excuse to invade.
Bush has said he seeks to resolve the nuclear standoff with North Korea diplomatically, but has not ruled out a military solution.
The standoff flared in October when U.S. officials said North Korea admitted it had a clandestine nuclear program in violation of a 1994 agreement with the United States.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday urged North Korea to hold talks to resolve the crisis.
"When the North comes out as a responsible member of the international community, we and the international community will not hold back on all necessary assistance," Roh's office quoted the president as saying.
South Korea, which is a close ally of the United States, hopes to persuade isolated North Korea to scrap its nuclear programs in return for aid and better ties with the outside world.
Roh, who took office in February, said he would discuss the issue with Bush when he visits Washington next month for their first summit. He said he also plans to meet with the leaders of China, Russia and Japan soon.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly inspected a military base on Friday.
The North's KCNA news agency said Saturday that Kim inspected Unit 205 of the Korean People's Army and told officers there, "No forces on earth can match this might of the People's Army." KCNA earlier reported that Kim visited an air force base Thursday.
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