BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Washington has rejected a proposal by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to discuss a peace treaty before denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. The proposal was also not welcomed by Seoul.

    The DPRK foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday, saying it would discuss reaching a peace treaty, to replace the Armistice Agreement, with relevant states within the framework of the six-party talks.

    Pyongyang's statement came as no surprise. It was another positive gesture by it to address issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.

    However, in response, the White House said the DPRK had to return to the six-party talks and take steps towards denuclearization for the peace treaty issue to advance.

    Meanwhile, a top diplomat in South Korea questioned the DPRK's proposal, saying it only could be seen as "tactics to stall its denuclearization process."

    However, what is important is that the parties sit down at the table. Taking a firm stand on what should be discussed first is equally a tactic.

    It should be acknowledged that the DPRK has made a series of conciliatory efforts to end hostility and improve its relationship with both the United States and South Korea.

    To look back, in a joint New Year editorial by three major official media, the DPRK expressed willingness to "establish a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula and make it nuclear-free through dialogue and negotiations."

    On Dec. 8, last year, Stephen Bosworth, U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy, visited Pyongyang and both sides reached a common understanding on the need for resuming the talks and implementing the Joint Statement adopted at the fourth round of the six-party talks in September 2005.

    Earlier in October, Kim Jong Il, top leader of the DPRK, said during a meeting with visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that his country was willing to attend multilateral talks, including the six-party talks, depending on the progress in its talks with the United States.

    In early August, former U.S. President Bill Clinton paid a surprise visit to the DPRK on a "humanitarian mission" to win the release of two detained American journalists.

    In the same month, following the death of the former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, the DPRK sent a high-level condolence delegation to Seoul to attend Kim's funeral, which was seen as "funeral diplomacy."

    All these moves point to a bigger possibility for all relevant parties to return to talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. But further progress requires sincerity from both the DPRK and U.S.

    The Korean Peninsula nuclear issue can only be solved in a peaceful way through dialogue and negotiations and other diplomatic means. The six-party talks could be a wise way.