October 28, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1424

SEOUL, Oct 27: North Korea, having hinted it might be ready for fresh talks on its nuclear intentions, has offered to show a group of US legislators how it makes weapons-grade plutonium, a key ingredient in the production of nuclear bombs.

But the bipartisan US congressional delegation, which had been due to leave for the reclusive communist state on Sunday, called off the trip at the last minute, citing opposition from the White House.

China, which hosted a first round of multi-party talks on the nuclear crisis in August and sends a senior envoy to Pyongyang on Wednesday, praised North Korea for showing a willingness to consider a US offer of security guarantees.

“China appreciates the positive gesture of North Korea,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in a statement on the ministry Web site after what was a significant weekend shift by the North in the year-old crisis.

“China hopes that all parties concerned will further show their sincerity, narrow their differences and create the necessary conditions to continue the dialogue progress and seek a political solution,” Mr Zhang added.

North Korea’s official KCNA news agency reported on Sunday that the US delegation had been scheduled to visit the Yongbyon nuclear complex, where the North reprocesses fuel rods.—Reuters