North Korea has been seeking a summit between the leaders of the rival Koreas, an official in Seoul said on Sunday, marking another step in its attempts to reach out to the world after being hit by U.N. sanctions, Reuters reported. The impoverished North has been stung by heavy rains that cut into its harvest and U.N. sanctions imposed after its nuclear test in May aimed at cutting off lucrative arms sales. It has, in recent months, made several gestures aimed at traditional foes the United States in South Korea. "They (North Koreans) have theoretically said a summit would be possible once the North Korea-South Korea dialogue has made some progress," said the official, who asked not to be identified. The North indicated it wanted better ties with the South when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met its leader Kim Jong-il this month in Pyongyang, the official said. Kim signalled to Wen his state was willing to end to its boycott of dormant international nuclear disarmament talks, but sought direct talks with Washington first. --SP
