North Korea Ready For Tlks .... But Only With The U.S.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, center, met Wednesday with North Korean Minister Myong Gil Kim, right, and adviser to the governor, Tony Namung, at the Governor's Mansion in Santa Fe, N.M. Associated Press

North Koreans Ask for Direct U.S. Talks -- Wall Street Journal

A delegation of North Korean diplomats told New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that Pyongyang was prepared for expansive disarmament talks with the Obama administration, but wants to talk directly instead of in the multicountry format Washington prefers.

The comments made to Gov. Richardson Wednesday in New Mexico are the clearest signal yet from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il that his reclusive state is prepared to resume negotiations over its nuclear program following Pyongyang's May detonation of an atomic device and a string of missile launches that have rattled Northeast Asia. Gov. Richardson met two North Korean diplomats Wednesday at his office in Santa Fe.

Read more ....

More News On North Korea

Bilateral talks with NKorea must be in six-nation framework: US -- AFP
New Mexico Governor, N. Korean Diplomats Continue Talks -- Voice of America
After Meeting, N.M. Governor Says N. Koreans Are Ready for Dialogue' -- Washington Post
Pyongyang vows to lay it all on the table in talks with Americans -- The Australian
South Korea Agrees to Visit by North -- New York Times
North Korea calls for direct nuclear talks with US -- The Telegraph

My Comment: One of the accomplishments of the Bush administration was getting all parties at the table. By having China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea at the table .... North Korea could not ignore their requests to show-up and deal. No surprise .... the North Koreans have been trying their best to unravel this arrangement by making demands that they will only deal with the U.S.

I expect the North Koreans to keep up with this stance for as long as possible .... my only concern is that the Obama Administration may decide to make an attempt for direct talks. I know that U.S. officials have publicly stated that they will not walk away from the 6-nation framework .... but North Korea are clearly banking that President Obama will change this structure of talks with time.

My gut is telling me that the North Koreans are probably right.