A North Korean diplomatic delegation has told New Mexico's state governor Bill Richardson that Pyongyang wants bilateral talks with the United States about its nuclear programme.

Governor Richardson, who formerly served as envoy to North Korea under both the Clinton and Bush administrations, says the North Koreans are opposed to a revival of the Six Nation talks, which also include China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. The talks in Beijing have repeatedly run aground and North Korea has resorted to missile tests as a means to apply pressure on the international community.
 

Pyongyang seems to have adopted a more moderate course recently. Two US journalists were released following mediation by former US president Bill Clinton. North Korea is also sending a delegation to the funeral of former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, who died on Tuesday. During his presidency, from 1998 to 2003, South Korea repeatedly sought rapprochement with the North.