Morning:
12°c
North Korea ready to resume talks on nuclear weapons
Ed Harris06.10.09
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said he is ready to return to multi-national talks on its nuclear weapons programme - amid reports that it was restoring a nuclear complex.
Mr Kim's comments, reported by official North Korean and Chinese media, were the clearest sign yet that Pyongyang is ready to resume talks after walking away earlier his year.
North Korea has been moderating its tone, signalling its willingness to resume a dialogue with the US, China and other states and backing away from its provocative behaviour and rhetoric of the spring.
The North was the subject of international condemnation after it conducted a long-range rocket test in April and a second nuclear test in May.
Extra urgency was added to the situation today by reports that US and South Korean intelligence authorities believe the North is in the final stages of restoring its nuclear programme. It had pledged to disable the programme in 2007 in return for aid before backing out of the disarmament process.
A South Korean government source said the North was restoring facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex.
"We have obtained indications that point to restoration work being in the final stages," the source said. "The work to restore nuclear facilities at Yongbyon has been ongoing since early this year."
Mr Kim said the resumption of talks would depend on progress in its separate two-way negotiations with the US. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said: "We encourage any kind of dialogue that would help us lead to our ultimate goal, which is the complete and verifiable de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula."
