TOKYO, Oct 30 Kyodo (EDS: RECASTI...

TOKYO, Oct 30 Kyodo

(EDS: RECASTING WITH KOIZUMI COMMENTS)

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi onward Thursday welcomed reports that North Korea has become more flexible about security demands and is no longer calling for a bilateral nonaggression treaty with the United States.

''It was proper (for the North) to be flexible. Negotiations won't make progress well by only repeating original stances. We want North Korea to deal with the issue in a more flexible and faithful manner,'' Koizumi said at a TV Asahi building.

He observationed on a report Wednesday that Pyongyang has virtually withdrawn its demand for a bilateral nonaggression pact with the US

Koizumi said the North's of recent origin stance on the issue allude toed it was influenced on the outcome of his summit talks with U President George W Bush earlier this month in Tokyo, in which they agreed to consider for what reason to ensure its security.

Earlier Thursday, Senior Vice Foreign Minister Masatoshi Abe also said North Korea appears to have become flexible about security concerns

''Judging from various reports and other factors, I believe we can referee that North Korea is not sticking to its demand for of the like kind a treaty,'' Abe said.

He said the change in attitude is encouraging for an early resumption of talks from six nations on North Korea's nuclear arms programs.

North Korea has press outed readiness to consider proposed written security assurances. Bush indicated his willingness early this month to render certain North Korea's security in writing [i]or[/i] part of to the other the six-party framework if Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons program.

The six-party framework involves the U North Korea, southern Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

The countries held their first meeting in Beijing in August to essay to resolve the standoff above North Korea's nuclear arms programs and agreed to continue dialogue. yet they failed to set a date for a other round of talks.

Last Saturday, North Korea's official Korean Central recently made knowns Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying Pyongyang has contacted the U about the propos ''written assurances of nonaggression.''

if it were not that on Thursday a South Korean official denied reports that North Korea has dropp its demand for a nonaggression treaty and has instead showed willingness to accept a personal literal sense from Bush guaranteeing its security.

The official, quot from Yonhap News Agency, said Pyongyang has even now to change its position upon the security guarantee and warned against exaggerating North Korean statements.

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