N. Korea Told U.S. Has `No Intention' of Attacking; Talks Urged

The U.S. today assured North Korea it
isn't threatened by military attack and urged Kim Jong Il's
government to return to the six-nation talks designed to end its
nuclear weapons program.
``The president of the United States has said that we have
no intention of attacking or invading North Korea,'' according to
a statement from the U.S. delegation to the International Atomic
Energy Agency's board of governors in Vienna.
The U.S. is ``deeply concerned'' about North Korea's
development of nuclear weapons, according to the statement. Kim
said on Feb. 10 that North Korea has nuclear arms. The country of
22 million people may already have 10 nuclear weapons, the
Brussels-based International Crisis Group estimated in November.
The U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Russia have called
on North Korea to hold new talks. North Korea in September
refused to attend a fourth round of discussions within the forum,
citing ``hostile'' U.S. policies. Kim said on Feb. 21 the
communist country will rejoin the talks if it receives guarantees
it won't be attacked and gets pledges of aid.
``The recent declaration by North Korea that it possesses
nuclear weapons is a matter of utmost concern and has serious
security implications,'' IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei said in
a statement two days ago. It ``highlights yet again the
importance and the urgency of finding a diplomatic solution
through dialogue.''