The United States said Monday that it is ready to take part in a new round of six-nation talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.  

"The US stands ready to resume the six-party talks at an early date and without preconditions, and we are working with others to do so," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said in a statement issued in Crawford, Texas, where President George W. Bush is on holiday.

"Our goal in talks is the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear programs," the spokesman added, referring to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Duffy was responding to reports that the DPRK has indicated willingness to attend a new round of six-nation talks which involves the DPRK, the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli made a similar response. "I would say that we would like to get talks started as soon as possible without preconditions," he said.

"I would say it's a complex diplomatic effort that requires patience," Ereli added.

The talks, the second round of its kind, were originally scheduled for mid-December but delayed because of differences between the United States and the DPRK over a proposed joint statement.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2003)