Seoul hails U.S. decision on N Korea

Kim Dae-Jung's comments lift hopes that dialogue between North Korea and South Korea will improve

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has welcomed news that the United States is to reopen talks with communist North Korea on key military issues.

Kim said he hoped the announcement by President George W. Bush would lead to continued close coordination between the two countries.

In a statement from the South Korean president's office Thursday, Kim also urged the North to engage in "serious and earnest" dialogue with Washington in order to bring about progress.

The reaction from South Korea has lifted hopes that cross-border dialogue between Seoul and Pyongyang -- stalled for months -- could benefit as a result.

Bush's announcement Wednesday came after an intense review by Washington on its policies towards North Korea.

ALSO Koreas welcome U.S. decision Bumpy road ahead for U.S.-N Korea talks S Korea pushes for second summit   MESSAGE BOARD The two Koreas    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Bush announced in March he was reviewing all Clinton-era dialogue with the North on its nuclear program, conventional military forces, and weapons proliferation.

At the time, Bush questioned whether North Korea's government could be trusted to uphold agreements on nuclear weapons and other military matters.

Stalled dialogue

Such comments stalled relations between Pyongyang and Seoul on ways to reduce tensions and move toward eventual reconciliation.

In Kim's statement Thursday, he expressed hope that Washington's move would help to jump-start the North-South dialogue.

A White House official said Wednesday the views of South Korea and Japan - key U.S. allies in the region -- had "played an important role" in the policy shift back toward engagement with North Korea.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to explain the Bush administration's policy in meetings Thursday with South Korea's foreign minister in Washington.

The United States also will notify Japan.

It was less clear how and when Washington would discuss the policy with Pyongyang.

Making his announcement Bush said Wednesday that if North Korea responds "affirmatively" to improved relations, Washington would expand "efforts to help the North Korean people, ease sanctions and take other political steps".

'Less threatening posture'

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.

Washington's North Korea policy review followed a meeting between Bush and Kim Dae-jung in March.

Kim was seeking Bush's support for his so-called "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 U.S. talks with Pyongyang on its missile development program.

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

"He said this isn't one of these deals where it's being set up for failure," Biden said.

CNN Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-Ae contributed to this report.