Kim Jong-Il's Seoul Visit Hinges on US Policy Review

EU Delegation in Pyongyang

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DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il intends to visit Seoul for a return peace summit, but is awaiting the outcome of a US policy review, the European Union said Thursday.

Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said after talks with Kim that the ball was now in the US court.

"My firm impression is that the North wants the new summit but is careful about the timing, and that is because of the policy review in the United States," he told a news conference.

After a euphoric start fuelled by South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung's visit to Pyongyang in June, the peace process has begun to flag and a promised return visit by Kim Jong-Il to Seoul has so far not materialised.

The new US administration of President George W. Bush has ordered a review of North Korean policy, different from his predecessor Bill Clinton, and signalled its ``distaste'' over dealing with Kim.

Persson said the EU delegation assured Kim that the policy review was not certain to yield a drastic shift in the US position on North Korea.

He added that Kim remained committed to the joint declaration he issued with Kim Dae-Jung, pledging the two Koreas to work towards eventual peaceful reunification.

"We have a firm commitment from Kim Jong-Il to the Pyongyang agreement, and we strongly encouraged the continuation of the process," the Swedish prime minister said after five hours of talks.

The discussions were "engaging and a good start," he said.