N.Korea asked to return to six-party talks

WASHINGTON, June 11 (UPI) -- North Korea should return to the six-nation talks on its denuclearization, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State-designate Kurt Campbell said in Washington.

The six-nation talks are currently stalled because of North Korea's objection to inspections. Since last month, the communist country also has earned international condemnation for its nuclear test and other aggressive acts.

Campbell, who will become the U.S. representative at the six-party talks, said Wednesday at his confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee the United States will not accept a nuclear North Korea, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

"We've got to make clear to the North Koreans that should they decide to return to the table for negotiations in a multilateral context, we'd be prepared to do that," Campbell was quoted as saying. "We've also been very clear that we cannot accept a nuclear North Korea."

Campbell has been nominated to replace Christopher Hill, who has been picked to become ambassador to Iraq. Besides the United States and North Korea, other members in the six-party denuclearization talks are Russia, China, Japan and South Korea.

A draft U.N. Security Council resolution in response to North Korea's nuclear test also calls on that country to return to the six-party talks.