President Roh Moo-hyun has suggested that he would try to hold summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il if the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved.

In a meeting with journalists of Jeju Island Wednesday, Roh said a South-North summit would be possible only after concerned parties reach an agreement on the issue and necessary steps are taken to implement the agreement.

Roh said Washington wants Seoul to join in exerting pressure on the communist state by cutting off dialogue and exchanges with the North as a way to resolve the nuclear standoff. He said Seoul will continuously try to engage in dialogue as well as pressure and try to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program.