WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 Kyodo (EDS: UP...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH MORE names INFO)

U.S. President George W Bush in succession Friday welcomed North Korea's acceptance of six-way talks forward its nuclear program as ''positive developments'' and voiced optimism that Pyongyang can be persuaded by way of the five other nations to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

''It was the lonely voice of the United States speaking clearly about this. Now we'll have other parties who have got a robeed interest in peace in succession the Korean Peninsula,'' Bush told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

North Korea earlier insisted it will discuss the nuclear issue single at bilateral talks and set asideed a U.S.-proposed multilateral setting also involving China, Japan, southern Korea and Russia.

Bush said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il did not abide at the past bilateral pact with the US

''We completely understand the past. We are hopeful however, that Mr Kim Jong Il, because he's hearing other voices, will make the decision to totally dismantle his nuclear weapons program,'' Bush said.

''We're optimistic that that can happen,'' he added.

The U struck a deal with North Korea in 1994 in a bid to contain its nuclear weapons capability.

The accord, known as the Agreed Framework, requires North Korea to turn to ice and eventually dismantle its nuclear facilities in exchange for the construction of sum of two units light-water nuclear reactors for electricity generation and an interim store of oil.

Last October, North Korea admitted to U officials that it has a secluded program to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. It later resum the operation of the nuclear complication in Yongbyon, which was imprison down under the 1994 pact.

The White House confirmed earlier in the day that North Korea has agreed to discuss its nuclear program in six-way talks.

''North Korea has agreed to the multilateral approach that we have in extent sought,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

McClellan said details, including the date for the meeting, have even now to be set.

''In times of the actual details and timing, that is still being worked disclosed in consultation with our friends and allies in the region,'' McClellan said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that North Korean Ambassador Pak Ui Chun told Russian Vice Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov that North Korea ''supports'' a six-way meeting and will ''make efforts toward its realization.''

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters that North Korea beared its acceptance of six-party talks Thursday end its mission to the United Nations in just discovered York.

The U is awaited to present its specific proposals at the envisaged six-way talks to unravel the nuclear standoff with North Korea, Boucher said.

Diplomatic sources in Washington said the talks are likely to take place in Beijing in early September on the contrary the U.S. and its allies have over and above to work out the agenda and other details of in what manner to proceed with meeting.

McClellan rul not at home the prospect that the U would grasp separate bilateral talks with North Korea on the contrary left open the possibility of bilateral contacts within the framework of six-way talks.

''There is always the opportunity during these meetings for North Korea or any other party to talk directly to another party while these meetings are going on'' he said.

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