North Korea calls US a friend and may return to talks

North Korea could return to six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons programs within weeks, a US Congressional delegation said today after a trip to the communist state.

Hours after the Americans left Pyongyang, the North Korean regime said it would not only return to nuclear talks but also treat the United States as a ”friend” as long as Washington does not slander the rule of totalitarian leader Kim Jong Il.

The North Korean overture, although attached with conditions, was highly unusual, coming after months of harsh anti-American rhetoric.

“Our unanimous impression is that the North is ready to rejoin the six-party process,” said Republican Curt Weldon, vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, in Seoul.

Weldon led a bipartisan delegation that held talks in Pyongyang with North Korea’s deputy leader, Kim Yong Nam, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, who is also North Korea’s chief representative to nuclear negotiations.

The US, North and South Korea, China, Japan and Russia have struggled to arrange a new round of talks aimed at persuading the North to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

The three prior rounds, hosted by China since 2003, made no breakthroughs. The last round was held in June.

“I am convinced, as are all my colleagues, that if in fact we move along the process that we are moving today, the six-party talks can and will resume in a matter of weeks, as opposed to months or years,” Weldon said.

Weldon called the four-day trip an “overwhelming success”.