The six-nation talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program, involving North and South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the U.S., resumed in Beijing Monday following a 13-month suspension, during which time the reclusive communist state conducted its first nuclear bomb test.
"The North Korean delegation has expressed its readiness to accept IAEA inspections should sanctions against it be lifted and its relations with the U.S. improve, but not permanent monitoring," the official said, specifying that inspections are held on a selective basis, while monitoring implies permanent control over its nuclear facilities.
North Korea demanded Monday that the UN and the U.S. must lift their sanctions and that the construction of a light-water nuclear reactor in the country be resumed before it agrees to consider nuclear disarmament.
Following North Korea's October 9 announcement that it had conducted its first nuclear weapons test, the UN Security Council passed a special resolution October 14 blocking all deliveries of military equipment and supplies to the country.
Four years ago, the United States suspended work on a light-water nuclear reactor it was building in North Korea under a 1994 agreement, citing North Korea's refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
As well as resumed construction, North Korea is seeking fuel supplies for its power stations, until the light-water nuclear reactor is completed, to meet its electricity needs.
At the fifth round held in September 2005, Pyongyang agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees, and the sides adopted a joint statement.
The statement confirmed North Korea's right to conduct peaceful nuclear research. Pyongyang, in turn, pledged to give up its nuclear weapons program and rejoin the NPT.
However, the country later boycotted further meetings in protest against Washington's financial sanctions.
Late last year, the U.S. accused North Korea of printing counterfeit dollars and laundering money through foreign banks, and ordered a Macao-based bank to freeze North Korean accounts holding $24 million.
Separate talks on unfreezing Pyongyang's bank accounts are expected to be held in Beijing, after a delegation led by O Kwang Chol, president of the North Korea's foreign trade bank, arrived in Beijing Tuesday.
At the resumed talks, Pyongyang has also insisted on its status as a nuclear power, which means that negotiations, initially launched in 2003 to persuade the North to give up its nuclear ambitions after it withdrew from the NPT, could switch onto an arms reduction track.
But the other five negotiating sides want North Korea to take clear steps to implement the September 2005 joint statement.
A source close to the talks said Monday's dismal atmosphere at the talks deteriorated further Tuesday, but that the parties are making every effort to produce a breakthrough.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a briefing that the delegations held 12 bilateral consultations Tuesday, and that a meeting between the U.S. and the North Korean delegation is possible.
"I have heard that such a meeting could take place Tuesday," he said, adding that he has no official information on the matter.
