Bush reopens North Korea arms talks

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Wednesday his aides will resume "serious discussions" with North Korea on issues including its missile development and nuclear programs.

Bush said if North Korea responds "affirmatively" to improved relations, the United States would "expand our efforts to help the North Korean people, ease sanctions and take other political steps."

The administration not only wants to discuss Pyongyang's advanced weaponry programs, but encourage "a less threatening conventional military posture," Bush said in a written statement.

"Our approach will offer North Korea the opportunity to demonstrate the seriousness of its desire for improved relations," he added.

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The announcement comes after a three-month policy review that followed a meeting between Bush and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in March. Kim was seeking Bush's support for his "sunshine" policy of engagement with North Korea, an effort for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.

At that time, Secretary of State Colin Powell had signaled an interest in resuming Clinton-era talks on missiles with North Korea. But Bush overruled him, publicly questioning whether secretive North Korea could be trusted to honor any new arms control pact.

Those comments stalled continued dialogue between North and South Korea on ways to reduce tensions and move toward eventual reconciliation after a 1950-53 war and a half-century of partition. A White House official said South Korean and Japanese views "played an important role" in the eventual policy shift back toward Clinton-era engagement with North Korea.

Sen. Joseph Biden, the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Powell has promised "hard-headed" but serious negotiations.

"He said this isn't one of these deals where it's being set up for failure," Biden said. He questioned whether the administration's review brought about the new willingness to hold talks, or "whether there was a realization that the response of our allies -- as well as members of Congress and both parties -- was somewhat stunned."

"I don't know what the reason (was), but they're on the right course and I hope for the right reason," Biden added.