N. Korean leader proposes summit with S. Korean president: Carter

(ATTN: UPDATES with quotes throughout; RECASTS lead, headline)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Thursday proposed holding a summit meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said in Seoul following a three-day trip to the communist state.
"He specifically told us that he is prepared for a summit meeting directly with President Lee Myung-bak at any time to discuss any subject directly between the two heads of state," Carter said, referring to a message he said he received from Kim hours earlier.
"Although we did not meet with the leader of North Korea, when we had already departed from our guest home, we were asked to come back to receive a personal message," Carter said in a press conference.
Carter was speaking after he arrived in Seoul on a private jet from Pyongyang with three former Western leaders known as the Elders.
Kim "sent word he is willing and the people of North Korea are willing to negotiate with South Korea or the United States or (the other powers involved in six-party talks) on any subject at any time and without any preconditions," he said.
"The desire of the Elders is that these offers will be accepted by South Korea, by the United States" or by the other members of the six-party talks that seek to denuclearize the North through aid but have not been held since 2008, Carter said.
The talks also include Japan, Russia and host China.
samkim@yna.co.kr