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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| N Korea sends US 'good signals' | N Korea sends US 'good signals' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has sent "good signals" that it wants to restart dialogue with the US over its nuclear programme, a US politician has said. | North Korea has sent "good signals" that it wants to restart dialogue with the US over its nuclear programme, a US politician has said. |
| Governor Bill Richardson's comments came after rare talks in his state of New Mexico with North Korean envoys. | Governor Bill Richardson's comments came after rare talks in his state of New Mexico with North Korean envoys. |
| Mr Richardson said he had detected a "lessening of tension" since former US President Bill Clinton's recent visit to Pyongyang. | Mr Richardson said he had detected a "lessening of tension" since former US President Bill Clinton's recent visit to Pyongyang. |
| But he said North Korea still refused to return to multilateral talks. | But he said North Korea still refused to return to multilateral talks. |
| In a statement after the talks in Sante Fe, Mr Richardson said the delegation had indicated North Korea was "ready for a new dialogue with the United States regarding the nuclear issue". | In a statement after the talks in Sante Fe, Mr Richardson said the delegation had indicated North Korea was "ready for a new dialogue with the United States regarding the nuclear issue". |
| He said the recent visit by Mr Clinton to North Korea, to secure to the release of two US journalists, had "helped thaw relations". | He said the recent visit by Mr Clinton to North Korea, to secure to the release of two US journalists, had "helped thaw relations". |
| Pyongyang had "obviously used the journalists as a bargaining chip" and was now seeking a "gesture" in return, Mr Richardson said. | Pyongyang had "obviously used the journalists as a bargaining chip" and was now seeking a "gesture" in return, Mr Richardson said. |
| "The North Koreans are sending good signals, that they're ready to talk directly to the United States," he said. | "The North Koreans are sending good signals, that they're ready to talk directly to the United States," he said. |
| "I detected for the first time a lessening of tension, some positive vibration". | "I detected for the first time a lessening of tension, some positive vibration". |
| Talks questions | Talks questions |
| But Mr Richardson said North Korea was still not prepared to return to the six-party talks about its nuclear programme. | But Mr Richardson said North Korea was still not prepared to return to the six-party talks about its nuclear programme. |
| It withdrew from the talks - which involve the two Koreas, the US, Russia, China and Japan - after the UN Security Council imposed sanctions following its nuclear and missile tests. | It withdrew from the talks - which involve the two Koreas, the US, Russia, China and Japan - after the UN Security Council imposed sanctions following its nuclear and missile tests. |
| The US has said it is willing to hold direct talks with the North within the six-party process if it returns to the negotiating table and takes irreversible steps towards denuclearisation. | The US has said it is willing to hold direct talks with the North within the six-party process if it returns to the negotiating table and takes irreversible steps towards denuclearisation. |
| "The North Koreans clearly want bilateral talks and not the six-party framework," said Mr Richardson. | "The North Koreans clearly want bilateral talks and not the six-party framework," said Mr Richardson. |
| "The question is whether to proceed with face-to-face bilateral talks, as the North Koreans prefer, or to utilise the six-party framework that the United States has advocated." | "The question is whether to proceed with face-to-face bilateral talks, as the North Koreans prefer, or to utilise the six-party framework that the United States has advocated." |
| North Korea's diplomacy is, correspondents say, following a familiar pattern - first belligerence: the walkouts and flaunting of military muscle, followed by a return to diplomacy and demands for further concessions. | |
| In Washington, the White House said it had not arranged the meeting and that Mr Richardson had not been given any messages to pass on to North Korean delegates Kim Myong-gil and Paek Jong-hoin | In Washington, the White House said it had not arranged the meeting and that Mr Richardson had not been given any messages to pass on to North Korean delegates Kim Myong-gil and Paek Jong-hoin |
| State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the US aim on North Korea remained "very simple and very clear". | State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the US aim on North Korea remained "very simple and very clear". |
| "Our goal is the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. And, of course, we want to see progress toward that," he said. | "Our goal is the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. And, of course, we want to see progress toward that," he said. |