In a sign of a possible major U.S. policy shift, Washington is reportedly giving positive consideration to a South Korean proposal to reward North Korea for its nuclear dismantlement.
The U.S. move comes ahead of a new round of six-way nuclear talks later this month aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis with the North.
A senior U.S. official in Washington assessed the South Korean proposal, broached at the last round of nuclear talks in February, as "very rational," indicating that Washington may be shifting away from its earlier uncompromising stance on nuclear negotiations.
The U.S. official also said the Bush administration has no plan to take the North Korean nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council, describing the six-way channel as "a good forum" to resolve the ongoing dispute.
At the second six-way meeting in February, North Korea demanded energy and other economic aid in return for freezing its nuclear program.
South Korea expressed willingness to provide economic aid only if the North's freeze would serve as a first step toward dismantling its entire nuclear program.
Seoul's offer was part of its three-stage proposal to resolve the North's nuclear crisis in coordinated steps, which would involve verbal commitments by all parties concerned which would later be backed up by detailed action plans.
The U.S. official said in order to resolve the North's nuclear issue, Washington plans to provide compensation while at the same time exerting pressure.
The official said the United States will present specific measures at the next round of nuclear talks.