N. Korea seen likely to attend new talks

SEOUL, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- North Korea will likely agree to resume the six-party talks on its nuclear program before U.S. President George Bush leaves office, sources say.

Citing an unnamed senior South Korean foreign ministry official, the Yonhap news agency reported Sunday that officials are optimistic Pyongyang can be persuaded back to bargaining table to negotiate with Seoul, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

"I think North Korea will agree to the opening of the six-way talks before President Bush's term ends, as it is interested in receiving energy aid," the official said.

Bush pushed Asian leaders to resume the North Korea talks while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru Saturday and encountered success, Yonhap reported.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters a new round of six-way talks will likely be in early December and probably focus on formalizing a verification process for Pyongyang's June declaration of its nuclear program.