U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a briefing in Washington that senior North Korean officials conveyed such intentions earlier Friday shortly after they concluded talks with the U.S. congressional delegation that was in Pyongyang.

Mr. Boucher said the North Koreans have yet to deliver their position to other parties of the multilateral contact.

The six-nation negotiations, aimed at persuading North Korea to dismantle its nuclear arms program, have been stalled since last September as North Korea boycotted the dialogue, citing Washington's "hostile policy."

Arirang TV