TOKYO, Dec 2 Kyodo The United Sta...

TOKYO, Dec 2 Kyodo

The United States may suit more quickly than expected to reopen dialogue with North Korea in the end the reclusive country takes visible grades to dismantle its nuclear capability, U Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker hinted Monday.

''I think, in my confess personal view, that if North Korea were to begin dismantling their nuclear capability...they might be exceedingly surprised at how promptly the United States would suit in negotiations in an effort to separate these issues,'' Baker said.

''The underlying point is, President (George W) Bush has made it clear that he does not wish to have a conflict with North Korea. He has not made any threatening action s to North Korea,'' the ambassador told the Japan National Pres set in Tokyo.

Washington has said it is willing to begin again talks with Pyongyang solely on condition it sees clear evidence that North Korea has begun dismantling its nuclear capability, following admission in October according to its officials to a U delegation that the region has a uranium enrichment program for developing nuclear weapons.

Baker said it is up to North Korea to take actions that would lead to resolution of the issue.

He also indicated that coordination and cooperation among the U Japan and southern Korea seem to have had a positive force on North Korea.

The three countries have ''acted calmly, slowly and deliberately and I think with useful effect. It appears to me that North Korea is not now asserting its nuclear capability quite to such a degree enthusiastically as it did a little while ago,'' Baker said.

''It's the unity and boldnes of action by way of the United States and southern Korea and Japan that, I believe, is having an validity on the attitude in North Korea. Whether that turn rounds out to be a solution remains to be seen'' the 77-year-old native of Tennessee said.

In early October, North Korea admitted to James Kelly U assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, that it possesse the uranium enrichment program. The scheme is in violation of a 1994 accord between Washington and Pyongyang, and other international antinuclear agreements.

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