The United States has welcomed reports that North Korea has offered to renew bilateral talks but said it would "reserve judgment" until it has heard directly from Pyongyang, a senior US official said this afternoon.
"We've always said that we're open to dialogue anytime, anyplace, anywhere without preconditions," said the official, who requested anonymity. But "until we've heard directly from them, we reserve judgment."
Earlier, South Korean special presidential envoy Lim Dong-Won said North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il had accepted Washington's offer to resume talks.
He quoted Kim Jong-Il as saying that Pyongyang would welcome a planned visit by Jack Prichard, US special envoy to negotiations with North Korea.
The South Korean envoy said the date of Prichard's visit to Pyongyang would be decided by the United States and North Korea.
AFP
