North Korea has reportedly said it will take part in the next round of six-way nuclear talks on the condition that Washington abolishes a recent law on promoting human rights in the Stalinist state.

North Korea's deputy ambassador to the U.N., Han Song-ryol, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal Tuesday that Washington must also drop its "hostile" policy toward Pyongyang if it wants the North to return to the nuclear negotiating table.

Han denounced the North Korean Human Rights Act as a direct attack against the North's socialist regime. The Act, which also aims to provide humanitarian aid to citizens and refugees of the communist state, was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush last month.

Han also suggested that Pyongyang is not placing much importance on who will become the next U.S. president. He anticipated that even if Senator John Kerry is elected, Washington's fundamental policy toward the North would not witness significant change.

The North Korean diplomat stressed that the issue at hand was the need to change U.S. policy toward Pyongyang rather than focus on any one candidate in the presidential race.

Kerry has previously pledged to seek direct North Korea-U.S. talks if elected president.