soon said. «We have to make progress especially through bilateral contacts,» he said. Earlier at the talks, North Korea reportedly said the United States must abandon plans to topple its regime and establish mechanisms for peaceful coexistence. The North also raised the issue of what it claims is a U.S. nuclear arsenal that could be used against the North, a senior American official said on condition of anonymity because the talks are still in progress. Both Washington and Seoul deny any U.S. nuclear weapons are in the South, and South Korea earlier raised the possibility of opening South Korean and U.S. bases for some form of verification by the North. The United States «stood behind» its offer at the last arms talks to give the North a security guarantee and economic and energy aid in return for a nuclear-free peninsula, the U.S. official said. The American offer requires that the North help dismantle its nuclear program and allow monitoring before any aid is given. Washington has repeatedly said it recognizes North Korea's sovereignty and has no intention of attacking the country. North Korea complained the U.S. proposal, made in June 2004, was unrealistic, the U.S. official said. The North says the proposal requires too much before awarding any U.S. aid.
