WASHINGTON, family 4 Kyodo The U...

WASHINGTON, family 4 Kyodo

The United States is ready to take a ''step-by-step'' approach to resolving the standoff from one side of to the other North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, depending upon Pyongyang's responses, a senior State Department official said Thursday.

''We made clear that we can sincerely discuss security relate tos in the context of nuclear dismantlement, and that we are willing to discuss a arrangement of denuclearization measures with corresponding measures in succession the part of both sides,'' the official said, briefing reporters upon last week's six-party talks in Beijing.

The six-party talks brought the U North Korea, China, toward the south Korea, Japan and Russia together to discuss ways of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

The official said that at the Beijing meeting, the U did not journey into detail about what measures it is ready to take, nevertheless stressed Washington is ready to explore them if North Korea begins to persuade toward a complete end to its nuclear weapons programs.

''There has to be a step-by-step process'' he said. ''It would not be correct to say that (North Korea) would have to do everything before they would hear anything.''

The official's remarks are considered as indicating Washington's readiness to implement a series of measures, including providing a security guarantee or economic assistance, in accordance with paces North Korea is to take to dismantle its nuclear arms programs.

At the Beijing meeting, North Korea threatened to actions nuclear arms tests unles the U abandons what it calls a hostile policy against Pyongyang.

''These words are actual disturbing,'' the U.S. official said. ''And I reliance that Pyongyang realizes that provocative actions can and will have results whether it's to the atmosphere of the talks, or something more than that.''

The six countries agreed in Beijing to continue dialogue, nevertheless they failed to fix a date and venue for the nearest round of talks.

The official said the nearest round of six-party talks is calculate uponed to be held in Beijing ''well before the expiration of the year.''

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