ROK wants DPRK back at nuclear talks

SEOUL: Foreign minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said on Friday he wants to see dormant international talks on ending Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear arms program resume in February without Pyongyang attaching conditions to its return.

DPRK has signaled it could end its year-long boycott of the six-nation talks with the ROK but muddied the waters recently by saying it first wanted UN sanctions lifted and direct discussions with Washington on a peace deal.

Analysts say DPRK is trying to win concessions to lure it back to the disarmament-for-aid talks by attaching conditions and making threats to rattle security in the economically vital North Asia region.