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| North Korea proposes high-level talks with US | North Korea proposes high-level talks with US |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| North Korea has proposed high-level talks with the US days after cancelling a meeting with South Korean officials. | North Korea has proposed high-level talks with the US days after cancelling a meeting with South Korean officials. |
| The National Defence Commission said in a statement it wanted "serious discussions" with the US to "secure peace and stability in the region". | The National Defence Commission said in a statement it wanted "serious discussions" with the US to "secure peace and stability in the region". |
| US and North Korean officials meet periodically, but have not engaged in high-level talks since 2009. | US and North Korean officials meet periodically, but have not engaged in high-level talks since 2009. |
| Earlier this year Pyongyang threatened to launch a nuclear attack on both the US and South Korea. | Earlier this year Pyongyang threatened to launch a nuclear attack on both the US and South Korea. |
| For years the North has cajoled the US and regional neighbours with a mixture of dire threats and promises of co-operation. | For years the North has cajoled the US and regional neighbours with a mixture of dire threats and promises of co-operation. |
| Correspondents say Pyongyang is constantly trying to improve its bargaining position to extract more food aid or fuel. | Correspondents say Pyongyang is constantly trying to improve its bargaining position to extract more food aid or fuel. |
| However, the regime has conducted three nuclear-weapons tests in recent years that have even angered its only ally, China. | However, the regime has conducted three nuclear-weapons tests in recent years that have even angered its only ally, China. |
| Beijing co-authored a Security Council resolution imposing new sanctions on the regime earlier this year in response to its latest nuclear test. | Beijing co-authored a Security Council resolution imposing new sanctions on the regime earlier this year in response to its latest nuclear test. |
| The North responded with increasingly hysterical threats, cut hotlines used for emergency communication with the South and withdrew workers from a joint industrial park near the border. | The North responded with increasingly hysterical threats, cut hotlines used for emergency communication with the South and withdrew workers from a joint industrial park near the border. |
| Pyongyang finally agreed to open talks with the South earlier this week. | |
| But on Thursday, the North cancelled the meeting, accusing the South of "deliberate disturbance" by changing the head of its delegation. | But on Thursday, the North cancelled the meeting, accusing the South of "deliberate disturbance" by changing the head of its delegation. |
| On Friday, Pyongyang issued an appeal calling on the South to change fundamentally its "policy of confrontation". | On Friday, Pyongyang issued an appeal calling on the South to change fundamentally its "policy of confrontation". |
| The National Defence Commission on Sunday said that in the meantime it proposed "high-level talks between the North and the US to secure peace and stability in the region and ease tension on the Korean peninsula". | The National Defence Commission on Sunday said that in the meantime it proposed "high-level talks between the North and the US to secure peace and stability in the region and ease tension on the Korean peninsula". |
| The commission said it was willing to have "serious discussions on a wide range of issues, including the US goal to achieve the world free of nuclear arsenal". | The commission said it was willing to have "serious discussions on a wide range of issues, including the US goal to achieve the world free of nuclear arsenal". |
| Washington could decide the time and venue, but there should be no preconditions, the statement said. | Washington could decide the time and venue, but there should be no preconditions, the statement said. |
| The National Defence Commission is headed by North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, who succeeded his father in December 2011. | The National Defence Commission is headed by North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, who succeeded his father in December 2011. |
| For years, delegates from the North engaged with the US, Russia, South Korea, Japan and China in talks over its nuclear programme. | For years, delegates from the North engaged with the US, Russia, South Korea, Japan and China in talks over its nuclear programme. |
| The regime was rewarded with food and fuel aid when it gave concessions, such as destroying a cooling tower at the Yongbyon nuclear plant in 2008. | The regime was rewarded with food and fuel aid when it gave concessions, such as destroying a cooling tower at the Yongbyon nuclear plant in 2008. |
| However, the North walked out of the talks in April 2009 after the UN criticised a rocket launch. | However, the North walked out of the talks in April 2009 after the UN criticised a rocket launch. |