DPRK gives positive message on nuclear talks: UN official

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has sent a "very positive message" regarding the stalled six-party nuclear talks, said a top United Nations official in Seoul on Wednesday.

The 59th UN General Assembly President Jean Ping made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, the Unification Ministry said in a statement without further elaboration.

Ping, who is also Gabon's foreign minister, arrived here on Tuesday via China after a five-day visit to the DPRK.

The UN official was also quoted as saying that Pyongyang asked him to deliver a message to Washington that it wants "co-existence" with the United States.

Meanwhile, at a meeting later with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, Ping also said he "is convinced hopeful," apparently referring to the prospect of a resolution of the standoff over the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

The UN official is to leave Seoul on Friday after meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday.

The fourth round of the six-party talks was supposed to take place before the end of September, but it has been delayed.

Source: Xinhua