DPRK can rejoin talks, says official

SEOUL - Reconciliation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its alleged attack on a Republic of Korea (ROK) warship is not a precondition for resuming the Six-Party Talks over ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs, local media quoted an official in Seoul as saying on Tuesday.

Rather, the DPRK's "will to denuclearize" itself will be a key to reviving the moribund Six-Party Talks, suspended after the DPRK walked out on them in April 2009, the Yonhap News Agency quoted an unidentified high-ranking government official as saying.

"There've been some remarks by North Korea (DPRK) that indicated its willingness to return to the Six-Party Talks - but there's been nothing showing its willingness for denuclearization," the official was quoted as saying.