MOSCOW, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- North Korea would renounce its nuclear weapons if Washington withdraws nuclear arsenals from the region, a Russian news agency reported Wednesday.
In exchange for nuclear disarmament, North Korea "will demand the withdrawal of U.S. nuclear weapons from South Korea and other countries of the region," the Interfax news agency reported, citing "an informed North Korean diplomatic source."
Another Russian news agency reported Wednesday North Korea would not agree to restart the six-nation talks on Pyongyang's disarmament until "preliminary agreements" were agreed to.
"There is no sense in holding talks without preliminary agreements," the Russian Information Agency Novosti, reported, citing "a source in Moscow."
The talks -- involving North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States -- were launched in 2003. They were intended to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program after Pyongyang withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The talks broke down in November 2005 over North Korea's demand that Washington lift sanctions it imposed on Pyongyang.
