US hoping Kim will signal return to talks

DPRK urged to take 'affirmative action' to de-nuclearize peninsula

Washington - The US hopes the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong-il, would indicate that the country was willing to return to the stalled Six-Party Talks during a likely tour to Beijing later this month, a senior official said in Washington.

"I hope when he (Kim) arrives in Beijing he will announce that North Korea is willing to come back to the six-party process and take affirmative action - steps towards de-nuclearization," US Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley said on Monday.