North Korea shifts stance on US nuke deal

NORTH KOREA, in a significant shift in a year-old nuclear crisis, said it was prepared to consider a US offer of security guarantees in return for Pyongyang dropping its atomic weapons programme.

In comments from a Foreign Ministry spokesman, the communist North said it was too early to assume that more multilateral nuclear talks would be held until Pyongyang had checked Washington's intentions through diplomatic channels.

US President George W Bush proposed the unspecified written undertakings this week during an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Bangkok.