Richardson sees N.Korea set for nuclear deal: NBC

Washington, Apr 9: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, leading a US delegation on a visit to North Korea, said he believed Pyongyang was ready to end its nuclear weapons program and improve relations with the United States, NBC Nightly News reported.

Richardson's delegation arrived ahead of an April 14 deadline for North Korea to begin dismantling its nuclear program under an agreement in six-party talks with the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China.

''I believe for the first time they do want to enter into an agreement with the six-party countries and they want a better relationship with the United States,'' Richardson told NBC yesterday.

''They know that the key is dismantling their nuclear weapons.'' Richardson's delegation is on a mission to oversee the return of remains of American soldiers from the Korean War but many hope to get a sense of the reclusive communist country's thinking about the nuclear issue during the visit.

The Bush administration's top Korea expert, Victor Cha of the National Security Council, is part of the US delegation, signaling a willingness by the White House to engage the North Koreans if they reciprocate, NBC said.

Richardson, a Democratic presidential candidate and former US ambassador to the United Nations, visited North Korea in the 1990s and in 2005.

En route to Pyongyang, he told NBC that negotiating with North Korea was not easy.

''I'm learned with the North Koreans you don't know what they're going to do next. They're totally unpredictable,'' he said.

''They're isolated. They don't negotiate like any other country.'' Although North Korea invited Richardson alone, the White House joined the trip partly to make sure he did not deviate from official US policy, NBC said.

Reuters

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