N. Korea Agrees to Dialogue on Nuclear Issue

SEOUL —  North Korea agreed today to resolve international concerns over its nuclear weapons program through dialogue, but stopped short of meeting a U.S. demand to immediately abandon the program.

“In order to guarantee peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, the South and North will actively cooperate in resolving all the issues, including the nuclear issue, through dialogue,” according to a joint statement after four days of talks.

But the agreement did not contain a clear North Korean promise to give up its nuclear weapons program, which violates a 1994 agreement with the United States.

A spokeswoman for South Korean President Kim Dae Jung said, “We expect that the agreement will provide a positive momentum.”