North Korea Calls for Direct Talks With US

PYONGYANG: North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has said the country is ready to return to stalled six-party negotiations about its nuclear programme.

It has also repeated its call for direct talks with its avowed enemy the United States.

Last month, leader Kim Jong-il said he might consider a return to the nuclear talks he had previously declared dead – after direct talks with Washington.

“The conclusion we have reached is that the direct parties, which are the North and the United States, must first sit down and find a rational solution,” the foreign ministry spokesman said in comments .

“Now that we have shown the generosity of stating the position that we would be willing to talk to the United States and hold multilateral talks including the six-way talks, it is time for the United States to make a decision,” the spokesman said.

But the state department says it has not yet decided whether to accept Pyongyang’s invitation for a visit by the US special envoy on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth.