North Korea's stance on talks shifts

SEOUL - The war in Iraq seems to have shifted North Korea's attitude towards American calls for multilateral talks on nuclear issues.

"If the United States is ready to make a bold switchover in its Korea policy for a settlement of the nuclear issue, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will not stick to any particular dialogue format," the North's KCNA news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying.

Until now, North Korea has insisted on bilateral talks.

Washington, which lumps communist North Korea in an "axis of evil" with Iraq and Iran, wants talks to include South Korea, Japan, Russia and China.

"We noted the statement with interest," said US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker.

"We expect to follow up through appropriate diplomatic channels."

The North's spokesman did not specify what would constitute a "bold switchover" but the impoverished, energy-starved North has demanded security guarantees and aid in the past.

Lee Jihyun, foreign media spokeswoman for South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun, said: "I hope we can understand North Korea's comments as part of the recent gestures shown by North Korea to take a more positive stance toward the international community's initiatives to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue peacefully."

Kim Jung Roh, deputy spokesman at the South Korean Unification Ministry, said Seoul had expected North Korea to shift its position gradually.

"Also, as the Iraq war is coming to an end faster than expected, North Korea has less options to take." Roh said the Iraq war had had a profound impact on North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and other North Korean officials.

"Especially watching the recent Iraqi war I'm sure they are very much terrified ... petrified by the Iraqi war," the paper quoted him as saying.

- REUTERS