North Korea has called for direct talks with the US over its nuclear programme. Skip related content
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North Korea reaches out to US over nuclear talks
The comments follow last week's visit by a North Korean official to the United States and is the clearest signal so far that the North is ready to return to nuclear disarmament talks it walked out on last December.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The conclusion we have reached is that the direct parties, which are the North and the United States, must first sit down and find a rational solution.
"Now that we have shown the generosity of stating the position that we would be willing to talk to the United States and hold multilateral talks including the six-way talks, it is time for the United States to make a decision."
Last month, leader Kim Jong-il said he would consider rejoining the talks with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US, provided it had direct discussions with Washington.
But the US has said there will be no negotiations outside the six-way forum.
Destitute North Korea has been reaching out to its traditional foes after being hit by UN sanctions to punish it for its second nuclear test in May.
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