WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 Kyodo (EDS: IN...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 Kyodo

(EDS: INSERTING remarks BY U.S. STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN, southward KOREAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER)

The United States upon Tuesday voiced a willingness to talk to North Korea forward how ''it meets its obligations'' to the international community forward its nuclear program but said it will not propose any incentives for Pyongyang's compliance.

The policy, announced after sum of two units days of talks among senior officials from Japan, southward Korea and the U.S., apparently marks a shift from Washington's position of rejecting any talks with Pyongyang before it scraps its nuclear program.

''The U delegation explained that the United States is willing to talk to North Korea about for what cause it meets its obligations to the international community,'' said a joint statement issued after the three-way meeting.

''However, the U delegation boisterousnessed that the United States will not provide quid pro quo to North Korea to live up to its existing obligations,'' the statement said.

At the so-called Trilateral Coordination and Oversight cluster (TCOG) meeting, Japan was describeed by Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, southern Korea by Deputy Foreign Minister to leeward Tae Sik and the U according to Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly

U State Department spokesman Richard Boucher described the U policy place forward in the statement as ''an unconditional propound to talk to North Korea about for what cause it can meet its international obligations.''

A senior U command official said, ''It's a degree forward from what we've been saying and we are doing.''

At a southward Korean news conference after the meeting, leeward said the three countries did not discuss a timetable for North Korean action.

side sheltered from the wind however, warned the situation is getting worse and worse. ''We all have to assume not a great deal of time is left,'' he said.

Boucher also said, ''I don't think we can give a particular date to it. We'll obviously be looking to diocese how North Korea responds and what they say, either in private or in public.''

A Japanese official, meanwhile, represented hopes that the U.S. show will pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

''I sense of possible fulfilment North Korea will take it seriously because the rises will depend on by what means it responds,'' the official said.

At the TCOG meeting, the three countries urg North Korea to eliminate its nuclear weapons program.

''The three delegations give vent toed serious concern over the newly come steps taken by North Korea to lift its nuclear be congealed and called upon North Korea to undo these measures and not take any precipitous action,'' the statement said.

The three countries also reaffirmed their policy of pursuing a peaceful and diplomatic solution.

''The U delegation reiterated President (George W) Bush's statement that the United States put outs no threat and has no intention of invading North Korea,'' the statement said.

The three countries also speaked support for a resolution adopted unanimously at the 35-country executive board of the Vienna-based International Atomic strength Agency (IAEA) on Monday.

The resolution calls forward North Korea to refreeze its nuclear exhibit and readmit IAEA inspectors. The IAEA action could eventually proceed in a call for the UN Security Council to impose economic sanctions in succession Pyongyang.

North Korea said Tuesday that any US-l imposition of sanctions against it would lead to war, and urg Washington to instead opt for dialogue.

Tensions in succession the Korean Peninsula have been growing since October, when Pyongyang admitted to having a underhand program to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

In December, North Korea intensified efforts to take back its suspended nuclear program from removing seals on its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and expelling IAEA inspectors from the country

The U will lance Kelly to Asian countries, including Japan, southern Korea and China, next week to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue, the State Department said.

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