North Korea's Foreign Ministry called on Monday for the six-party nuclear talks to resume the week of Sept. 12, once the current military drill between the US and South Korea, which includes at least 10,000 American soldiers and an undisclosed number of South Koreans, come to a close.
According to KCNA, a North Korean spokesman said that the talks would resume "when the dust from the war drills have settled down somewhat." He added that the US expressed understanding of North Korea's reservations.
Delegates to the fourth round of talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear program took a recess from talks at the beginning of August after six participating countries - China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas - failed to agree on basic principles delineating future negotiations.
In 2002 North Korea admitted to having a secret nuclear program in violation of an earlier agreement with the US.
North Korea routinely criticizes the annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States.
