The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is willing to return to the six-party nuclear talks in July, if the United States recognizes and respects Pyongyang, said South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Friday.

Chung made this remarks in a televised press conference on Friday evening, hours after his returning from a four-day Pyongyang visit where he met with the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Il.

The South Korean official and his 40-member government delegation attended a joint celebration held in Pyongyang to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the inter-Korean summit between South Korean former President Kim Dae-jung and the DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il in June 2000.

"During the two-and-half-hour meeting with Kim Jong Il, we fully and deeply exchanged views on politics, economy, military and humanitarian issue, especially on the nuclear issue," Chung told reporters at the beginning of the press conference.

Besides the meeting, Kim Jong Il also had lunch with Chung and other seven members from the South Korean government and civic delegations who were there to attend the joint celebration.

Chung is the first South Korean senior official in the administration of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to meet the DPRK top leader.

Chung said the atmosphere of the meeting is "very sincere, frank and honest."

"On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Kim Jong Il said denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is the teachings of the deceased Kim Il Sung. The inter-Korean agreement on denuclearizingthe Korean Peninsula remains valid," Chung told reporters.

South Korea and the DPRK ratified the Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in February 1992.

The South Korean official, who also serves as head of the South Korean National Security Council, quoted Kim Jong Il as saying that the DPRK "has never given up or rejected" the nuclear talks.

"Chairman Kim Jong Il said the DPRK is willing to return to the six-party talks even in July, if the US intention of recognizing and respecting the DPRK is clear," Chung said, adding that Kim also said it needs further detailed negotiation between the DPRK and the United States over the resumption of the six-party talks.

Kim Jong Il also gave "positive evaluation" to the recent Seoul-Washington summit, and said he will closely monitor the US subsequent attitude, according to Chung.

"The DPRK is willing to return to the NPT (Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty) and receive inspection of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) after the solution of the nuclear issue. It is unnecessary for the DPRK to have nuclear weapons," Chung quoted Kim Jong Il as saying Chung said when he told Kim a multilateral security safeguard is better than a bilateral one between the DPRK and the United States, Kim replied "It is reasonable, (we) will discuss the proposal carefully in future."

The South Korean official said Kim promised to give reply after carefully study of the "important proposal" raised by the South Korean government concerning the solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

However, Chung did not give detailed explanation to the so-called "important proposal" which was first put forward by South Korean delegation at inter-Korean vice-ministerial talks held in May.

"Kim said there is no reason to harbor hard feelings about Mr. Bush...Kim further said he has thought well of the United States since the (former US President Bill) Clinton's administration," briefed Chung.

Chung and Kim also made several agreements on improving inter-Korean exchanges. Under the agreements, the DPRK will send influential official to attend a joint celebration to be held in Seoul around Aug. 15 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan's colonial rule.

The two also agreed to resume reunions of separated family members, reopen inter-Korean general-level military talks and opena direct flight route between Seoul and Pyongyang.

Chung's meeting with Kim has attracted much attention from local and world media as the six-party nuclear talks have been suspended for almost one year.

China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan have convened three rounds of six-party nuclear talks in Beijing, making efforts to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue onthe Korean Peninsula.

However, the fourth round of the multilateral talks failed to be convened in last September as the DPRK refused to attend the talks, citing US hostile policy.

Local media has spoke highly of Chung-Kim's meeting, commenting it boosts the prospect of restarting six-party talks.

Source: Xinhua