SEOUL, July 14 (UPI) -- The recent softening of U.S. tone about North Korean leadership may have encouraged that country to return to the six-nation nuclear weapons talks.
In the past, U.S. President George W. Bush had called North Korean leader Kim Jong Il a "tyrant." U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had declared his regime an "outpost of tyranny."
But when there were signals last month that North Korea may be prepared to return to the talks, the language turned more polite, reports the Chicago Tribune.
On at least two occasions, Bush referred to the North Korean leader with a title of respect: "Mr. Kim Jong Il."
It is these changes and assurances that the United States has no plans to invade North Korea that played at least a part in drawing the North back to the stalled talks, the report said.
Rice has just completed a tour of Asia with the prospect of an agreement on North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons looking brighter than ever, the report said.
