North Korea will rejoin 6-way talks in June - paper
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-28 10:00

North Korea has told officials in South Korea it is willing to take part in six-party talks on its nuclear arms program in June, a Japanese newspaper reported.

Pyongyang also said in its message, which was conveyed to South Korea by unofficial routes and then to Japan by Seoul, that it was willing to sign a treaty with the United States by October, the conservative Sankei Shimbun said on Monday.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon (C), Director-General of Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asia-Oceania bureau Kenichiro Sasae (R) and U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Christopher Hill arrive at a meeting in Seoul to discuss six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program February 26. [Reuters/file]

North Korea declared on Feb. 10 that it had nuclear weapons and that it was pulling out of the talks, which include Japan, Russia, China and the United States as well as the two Koreas.

The report cited a government source, but a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told Reuters he was unaware of the report.

South Korean, Japanese and U.S. negotiators met in Seoul on Saturday and urged the North to return to talks without delay.

They said they were ready to discuss all issues of concern to Pyongyang but stopped short of offering concessions.

North Korea hinted recently that it was willing to return to talks under certain conditions. Three rounds of talks have been held, the last June 2004, but there has been little progress.

Pyongyang has said it is seeking security assurances and a less hostile stance by the United States.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
Criminal penalties pondered for aborting females         Taiwan urged to back '1992 Consensus'         Securities legislation protects investors         Kitty Hawk sailor to appear in HK court         Iran, Russia sign nuke deal opposed by US         Wen calls for more efforts to curb corruption	Syria hands Saddam's half-brother to Iraq       EU must compromise on nuke issues - Iran official       Anti-Syrian protesters take to streets       Pope makes surprise appearance at window       Global anti-smoking pact goes into effect       Iran, Russia sign nuclear fuel agreement