North Korea, showing some flexibility on a key issue, will return to six-party talks on ending its nuclear arms programme in early November, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said on Friday, according to Reuters. "North Korea will return to the talks in early November unconditionally," Richardson, who had been invited by the North Koreans, told reporters in Tokyo after a four-day visit to the reclusive state this week. North Korea had earlier insisted on receiving a light-water nuclear reactor in exchange for ending its weapons programme, but Richardson said he saw signs on his visit that Pyongyang was willing to moderate this demand. "On the light-water reactor issue, (North Korea) showed some flexibility," he said. Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has maintained contacts with Pyongyang for some years, met senior North Korean officials including Kim Yong-nam, the No. 2 figure in the country's hierarchy, and First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju. "They said unconditionally they will be there...early November, probably the latter part of the first week," he said after his fourth visit to North Korea. At the last round of six-party talks in September, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear weapons programme in return for aid, security guarantees and diplomatic recognition, but how the accord can be achieved in practice depends on future talks. North Korea's demand for a light-water reactor has prevented a full agreement, as it is unacceptable to Washington. The talks involving the two Koreas, Russia, Japan, China and the United States are to resume in early November, as agreed by the parties at the last round, but no date has been set.
