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US "encouraged" on signs that North Korea is accepting talks offer
WASHINGTON (AFP) Jul 31, 2003
 The United States said Thursday it was "very encouraged" at signs that North Korea may be ready to accept its proposals for multilateral talks on a nuclear crisis.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that US officials were "very encouraged by indications that North Korea is accepting our proposals for multilateral talks."

"At this moment we have indications that we find very encouraging," Boucher said.

Russia's foreign ministry earlier said that North Korea had agreed to a US proposal to hold six-nation talks to try to resolve the nuclear standoff.

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