¡¡BEIJING, Aug. 23 -- The Democratic People¡¯s Republic of Korea (DPRK) apparently was willing to abandon its nuclear weapons programs, with a breakthrough possible in the current round of international talks, South Korea¡¯s foreign minister said Sunday.

    Ban Ki-moon, in Washington to see U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other U.S. officials this week about the nuclear standoff, raised the possibility that the DPRK might be able to pursue "peaceful" nuclear activities in the future.

    The DPRK officials have said ¡°it is the legacy¡± of their country¡¯s founding president, Kim Il Sung, and ¡°the will of the highest authorities of the DPRK to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,¡± Ban said. ¡°It seems to us that the current leader, Kim Jong Il, apparently has decided to abandon the DPRK¡¯s nuclear weapons programs,¡± Ban said.

    (Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencis)