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DPRK drops six-party talks, open to new dialogue

(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-27 10:12

PYONGYANG: Pyongyang says it is open to new dialogue to defuse tensions over its nuclear weapons program.

Related readings:  Report: DPRK willing to hold talks with US  US and DPRK compete for same stage  Clinton pushes DPRK on nukes  US calls on DPRK to return to denuclearization process

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reiterated the country's stance of refusing to resume the six-party talks, but said there was "a specific and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current situation," the official KCNA news agency said on Monday. 

According to AP, the statement Monday from the DPRK's Foreign Ministry appeared to refer to direct talks with the United States, though it was not specific.

On Friday, the DPRK's ambassador to the United Nations also indicated its interest in bilateral negotiations with Washington, saying the country is "not against a dialogue," according to Japan's Kyodo News agency.

The US has repeatedly refused direct talks with the DPRK.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that major powers wanted the DPRK to return to negotiations over its nuclear program but would not reward any provocative actions.

"We are not going to reward them for half-measures. They now know what we in the world community expect," said Clinton in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

"We still want the DPRK to come back to the negotiating table, to be part of an international effort that will lead to denuclearization" she added.