"If they do so, I believe a way to resolve the issue will soon be opened."

Lee's comments follow criticism of Washington by President Roh Moo-Hyun last week. Roh said the US wrecked hopes of a nuclear deal with North Korea last year by simultaneously imposing financial sanctions.

South Korea's foreign minister separately insisted there was no alternative to the six-party process involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

"The six-way talks have more merits than demerits and there is no alternative to replace them," Song Min-Soon told a weekly briefing.

Negotiations began in 2003 and resumed last week for the first time in 13 months. They ended without even setting a date for the next round.

The talks assumed added urgency after the hardline communist state conducted its first nuclear weapons test in October.

At the forum in Beijing last week North Korea refused to engage in substantive nuclear discussions until Washington lifts the financial sanctions imposed last year, which have left 24 million dollars of North Korea-linked funds frozen in a Macau bank.

"Although the parties concerned failed to hammer out any concrete compromise, they had in-depth discussions on initial steps to take (for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula)," Song said.

"I hope that North Korea will come back with a practical and wise idea as early as possible."

Song said he would visit Washington from January 3 to 6 for talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on North Korea and other issues.

The accounts were frozen after the US blacklisted Macau's Banco Delta Asia, saying the North's funds were the suspected proceeds of counterfeiting and other illicit activities.

Financial teams from the US and North Korea met for two days last week but failed to reach any agreement. They are due to meet again next month.

Unification Minister Lee, who has been strongly criticised by the opposition for alleged softness on North Korea, also said he hopes inter-Korean dialogue can resume but this was up to the North.

"I hope for the resumption of talks as soon as possible but I cannot say decisively when and how talks could resume," he said, adding that inter-Korean dialogue would also help the six-party process.

Lee refused to answer when asked whether Seoul has proposed talks with Pyongyang, Yonhap news agency reported.

Pyongyang halted dialogue shortly after Seoul suspended shipments of humanitarian aid in protest at the North's July missile tests.

Lee said his country has no immediate plans to resume aid, mostly food and fertilizer, but plans to review its nature and purpose.

earlier related report
No alternative to six-party talks, says South Korea
Seoul (AFP) Dec 28 - South Korea insisted Thursday there is no alternative to the six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions even though the latest round ended in apparent deadlock last week. "The six-way talks have more merits than demerits and there is no alternative to replace them," Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon told a weekly briefing.

"I want you to take note that none of the participating countries would deviate from the framework of six-way talks," Song said.

Song's remarks came amid scepticism about the three-year-long negotiations, which resumed last week for the first time in 13 months but ended without even setting a date for the next round.

The talks assumed added urgency after North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in October and the UN Security Council imposed sanctions.

In Beijing last week North Korea refused to engage in substantive discussions about its nuclear programmes until Washington lifts financial sanctions imposed last year, which have left 24 million dollars of North Korea-linked funds frozen in a Macau bank.

"Although the parties concerned failed to hammer out any concrete compromise, they had in-depth discussions on initial steps to take (for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula)," Song said.

"I hope that North Korea will come back (to the six-way talks) with a practical and wise idea as early as possible."

Song said he would visit Washington from January 3 to 6 for talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other US officials on North Korea and other issues.

The six-way talks involve the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

The accounts were frozen after the US blacklisted Macau's Banco Delta Asia, saying the North's funds were the suspected proceeds of counterfeiting and other illicit activities.

Financial teams from the US and North Korea met for two days on the sidelines of the six-party forum last week, but failed to reach any agreement. They are due to meet again next month.

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