U.S. Shows Readiness to Hold Direct Talks with N. Korea

Washington, April 14 (Jiji Press)--Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special
envoy for policy on North Korea, on Tuesday showed Washington's readiness to
hold direct talks with the reclusive communist state if the move is deemed
appropriate, a Japanese lawmaker revealed.

Bosworth made the remark at a meeting here with Seiji Maehara,
deputy head of the Democratic Party of Japan, Maehara told reporters. The
DPJ is the biggest opposition party in Japan.
North Korea on Tuesday announced its decision to pull out of the
six-party talks on its nuclear disarmament in protest to a U.N. Security
Council statement that condemned Pyongyang's recent launch of what is widely
believed to be a long-range missile.
According to Maehara, Bosworth said the United States will spare no
effort to make progress in the six-way talks that involve North and South
Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Russia in order to achieve the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Bosworth also said that the United States will patiently call on
Pyongyang to continue dialogue.
Bosworth has repeatedly indicated that he is ready to visit North
Korea if needed.