In dramatic shift, U.S ready for direct talks with North Korea

[Americanhero1]

By Elise Labott
CNN State Department Producer
WASHINGTON (CNN) — In a dramatic policy shift, the Obama administration Friday said it is willing to engage directly with North Korea as a way to bring the reclusive regime back to six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear ambitions.

“There’s a consensus that we’re prepared to engage North Korea bilaterally as a means to accomplish our long-term objectives,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters.

North Korea pulled out of the “six-party talks” in April, protesting condemnation at the United Nations over its nuclear test and missile launches.

Crowley said the goal of direct talks would be “to encourage the North to come back to the six-party process” and take “affirmative steps towards denuclearization.”

Until now the United States has said it would hold bilateral talks with North Korea only within the framework of the six-party negotiations, which also include South Korea, Japan, China and Russia.
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/11/in-dramatic-shift-u-s-ready-for-direct-talks-with-north-korea/