New York, Aug 13: The Bush administration is ready to consider some conciliatory steps towards North Korea if Pyongnang either fully disclose its weapons or allow international inspectors into the country.
Possible concessions include some form of written assurance that the US has no intention of attacking North Korea and some relaxation of curbs on activities by international institutions to help the north with its economic problems, New York Times reported today quoting administration officials as saying. An official told the daily that the US might even be prepared to offer economic incentives, an idea it previously disparaged in connection with the Clinton administration's 1994 deal to freeze North Korea's nuclear programme, which the north subsequently breached. However, the official added, economic benefits would come only after the dismantling of the nuclear programme. According to Asian and American officials, the next round of talks with North Korea would take place from August 27 to 29 in Beijing, the daily reported.

"There are a lot of ideas being discussed," said an unidentified Asian diplomat. "The question is how they will be packaged, and in what sequence. The US clearly wants its concerns addressed at an early stage, while the North Koreans want their concerns addressed at an early stage."
As the next Beijing meeting approaches, The Times says the Bush administration is reported once again to be divided over concessions to the north. There are also differences of view between Washington and its allies, Japan and South Korea.

Japan and the US take a harder line, while S Korea is inclined to accept the idea of "front-loading" some concessions in return for preliminary steps by the north toward nuclear disarmament.
Bureau Report