The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has made a
verbal reply to the letter of U.S. President George W. Bush earlier
this month, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon
Johndroe said Friday.
"We received a verbal reply," Johndroe said, adding that it was
made through "New York diplomatic channels."
"All members of the six-party talks look forward to the full
implementation of the Sept. 19, 2005, Joint Statement and the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said, without
disclosing details of the verbal reply.
In a letter dated Dec. 1 to DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il, Bush
held out the prospect of normal diplomatic ties with the DPRK and
meanwhile stressed the principle of "actions for actions" in the
process of dismantling the country's nuclear program, according to
U.S. officials.
It is widely regarded that the letter marked an apparent shift
of attitude by Bush toward the DPRK, a country once he branded as
one of the "axis of evil."
(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2007)
