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North Korea and the U.S. have held talks through the North's UN mission in New York. Though details of the talks are not known yet, the meeting was reportedly requested by the North, raising hopes that Pyongyang may be softening its stance against Washington and may return to the multilateral nuclear talks.
U.S. and North Korean officials met in New York on Monday for the second time in less than a month. North Korea had requested the meeting and may have hinted at the possibility of returning to the stalled six-country talks, paving the way for the contact, Korean media reported citing diplomatic sources in Washington.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack confirmed the meeting, but did not elaborate on details, saying it occurred out of "procedural contacts."
Joseph DiTrani, U.S. special envoy to the six-party negotiations, is believed to have met with North Korea's UN Ambassador Pak Gil-yon.
Earlier, Whitehouse Spokesman Scott McClellan said Washington was waiting for a response from North Korea on whether it intends to return to the six party talks. Mr. McClellan said the United States was hopeful that the North would soon respond. He added the U.S. was continuing to urge North Korea to return to the talks at an early date without preconditions.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that South Korea told U.S. officials that President Roh Moo-hyun may present a new set of offers to North Korea and may seek President George W. Bush's agreement during a bilateral summit slated for later this week.
The new plan, which entails sequenced steps for participating nations, is said to be far more specific than the plan Washington offered last year at the last round of six party nuclear talks.
The U.S. daily did not offer details on what those sequenced steps would be.
Arirang TV
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