Bush has referred to Kim as a pigmy and a tyrant and admitted publicly to loathing the North Korean leader in the past.

However, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-Young, in talks with Kim in Pyongyang earlier Friday, said he pointed out that Bush had recently changed his tone and referred to him as "mister" Kim Jong-Il on several occasions.

"There is no reason for me to think badly of his excellency President Bush," Kim was quoted as saying.

"I remember what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin said earlier that (Bush) is an easy man to talk to...

"Since the Clinton administration, I have had a good image of the United States and have tried to become friendly toward the country... It is important to respect a dialogue partner. You can make public what I said here."

Chung had an unexpected face-to-face meeting with Kim for 150 minutes during a visit to Pyongyang at the head of a South Korean government delegation to celebrate the fifth anniverary of a landmark inter-Korean summit.

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