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DPRK willing to resume talks: report

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-18 16:23

SEOUL: A news report says the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il has expressed willingness to engage in "bilateral and multilateral talks."

Related readings:  Kim Jong-il meets China envoy  Hu's envoy focuses visit on DPRK ties  Hu's special envoy meets DPRK vice FM  China: No formal information on Wen's visit to DPRK  DPRK eyes fruitful ties with Japan  US agrees to bilateral talks with DPRK within six-party context  On DPRK holiday, US adds new sanctions  China reaffirms dialogue after DPRK's uranium claim  DPRK says uranium program near completion

Kim's comments on Friday are a strong indication that the DPRK could rejoin stalled negotiations aimed at ending its nuclear weapons program.

China's Xinhua news agency reported in a dispatch from the DPRK's capital Pyongyang that Kim said, "The DPRK would like to solve relevant issues through bilateral and multilateral talks."

Xinhua said Kim made the comments to Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy.

Pyongyang has so far insisted one-on-one talks with Washington on its nuclear programs since pulling out of the six-nation negotiations in April.