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North Korean delegation in Seoul for trade talks
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-09 16:00

A North Korea delegation arrived in Seoul on Saturday for trade talks which will open channels of communication between the two amid hopes for a resumption of six-party talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear plan.

The talks coincide with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Asia trip, which Seoul believes could provide the final push for the North to return to the table.

Her visit comes after North Korea recently signaled it wanted to return to talks, possibly this month but only if Washington met conditions, such as showing respect and refraining from hurling insults at its leader, Kim Jong-il.

The head of North Korean delegation, Choe Yong-gon (L), Deputy Minister of Construction and Building Material Industries, chats with South Korean Vice Finance Minister Bahk Byong-won, as he arrives at the venue of inter-Korean trade talks in Seoul July 9, 2005.[Reuters]

Flying to Beijing to start a six-day Asian tour, Rice said on Friday the United States was committed to "keeping doors open" so North Korea could return to six-party nuclear talks but would not alter its negotiating proposal as an incentive to make that happen.

Rice said President Bush had set no deadline for reviving the talks, which include North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States and which have been stalled since June last year.

Rice will visit China, Thailand and Japan before finishing in South Korea on Wednesday.

South Korea's foreign minister said this week there would be in-depth discussions for an early resumption of the six-party talks during Rice's Korea visit.

South Korean officials said they believe the talks could begin as early as this month. In another positive sign, Chinese President Hu Jintao is sending a former foreign minister to North Korea next week when Rice has talks in Tokyo and Seoul.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also said on Friday he had got the impression from talks at the G8 summit that North Korea may soon return to the talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs in return for aid and security guarantees.

U.S. officials say Pyongyang may have eight or more nuclear weapons, up from one or two at the start of Bush's term, and consider the state a major threat to regional and U.S. security.

The trade talks between South Korea and North Korea could include discussions on food aid and railway links.

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