VIENNA, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to the six-party talks as soon as possible.

    In a Chairman's Conclusion of its Board of Governors' meeting ending here Thursday, the agency emphasized the importance of continued dialogue to achieve a peaceful and comprehensive resolution of the DPRK's nuclear issue and attached great importance to the crucial role played by the six-party talks in this regard.

    "The Board expressed the hope that such a resolution would ensure the return of the DPRK to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and provide the Agency with the authority necessary for itto provide credible assurances regarding the nature of the nuclearprogram of the DPRK," the paper said.

    The meeting, which began on Monday, also expressed its deep andserious concern over the country's statement on Feb. 10 which announced that it had manufactured nuclear weapons.

    It also noted the comment of Feb. 22 by the DPRK indicating itspossible return to the six-party talks.

    "In this regard, the Board strongly encouraged all the parties concerned to double their efforts to facilitate an early resumption of the six-party talks," it added.

    It also urged the DPRK in particular to agree to the resumptionof the six-party talks at an early date "without preconditions".

    "The Board supported the international community's peaceful efforts to address the serious challenge posed by the DPRK nuclearissue," it said.

    The call by the UN nuclear watchdog came after a pledge by the DPRK on Wednesday that it will return to the six-party talks "any time if the US takes a trustworthy and sincere attitude and moves to provide conditions and justification for the resumption of talks."

    The meeting, which drew representatives from all the 35 member states, also discussed Iran's nuclear issue and the re-election ofIAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei.

    Since August 2003, China, the United States, the DPRK, Russia, South Korea and Japan have held three rounds of talks in Beijing aimed at peacefully resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang refused to attend the fourth round scheduled for last September, citing hostile US policy. Enditem