N Korea may be ready for compromise

Seoul: North Korea may be ready for compromise it was reported on Sunday, as the top US diplomat left Moscow after a mission to increase pressure on the communist state.

A South Korean news agency said that the North's leader Kim Jong-il has promised not to stage a second nuclear test unless it faces US "harassment".

Diplomatic sources say Kim gave the assurances during a meeting in Pyongyang last week with a high-level Chinese delegation led by State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan.

A source said, "Kim said during a meeting with Tang that North Korea would not conduct an additional nuclear test unless the US harasses the North."

The source added, "Kim also promised North Korea would return to the six-way (disarmament) talks in the near future as long as the US promises to lift financial sanctions after the talks reopen."

South Korean officials said they had no information on the report.