US-North Korea contact key, China, S. Korea say

HANOI, Nov 17 (Reuters) The key to success at the next round of North Korean nuclear talks is for the United States and Pyongyang to have as much contact as possible, the leaders of South Korea and China said today.

Meeting ahead of the formal summit of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Chinese President Hu Jintao also agreed that their countries had the most at stake in the six-party talks.

''The leaders spoke of the need for the United States and China to have much contact at the six-party talks and show flexibility to resolve the problem,'' Roh's chief national security adviser Song Min-soon told reporters.

''The leaders stressed that it was in South Korea's and China's interest more than anyone in the six-party talks to resolve this through dialogue and peacefully,'' he said.

Negotiations to end North Korea's nuclear ambitions -- involving South and North Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States -- are expected to resume next month after more than a year of delay.

North Korea has demanded direct negotiations with the United States to talk about nuclear issues and a US freeze on the North's international financial transactions, imposed on the grounds it is engaged in illegal activities like counterfeiting.

The United States has refused to engage in bilateral negotiations but has agreed to discuss the financial curbs in the context of the six-party talks.

Roh will meet US President George W. Bush on Saturday and North Korea will be high on the agenda, Song said.

REUTERS PDM VC1725