A former U.S. special envoy says North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's retirement would be the starting point of reunification of the two Koreas.

Charles Pritchard, the U.S. State Department's former envoy to North Korea, made the remarks on Friday at a news conference in Seoul. The former U.S. envoy is currently visiting South Korea to attend a symposium being hosted by the ruling Uri Party.

Pritchard said that the North Korean regime without Kim Jong-il would not be the same as before and that it would be the starting point of reunification.

The former envoy also said that in case of reunification, the economic burden for South Korea would be tremendous. Pritchard urged the South to make preparations for a 'soft landing' for the North after a prospective reunification of the two countries.

Additionally, Pritchard claimed that even if the six-way talks aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear arms development were to resume, Pyongyang and Washington would only negotiate proposals presented in the previous round of talks last June, without suggesting new ones.

Regarding President George Bush's new diplomatic team, Pritchard said that he forsees no major changes in Washington's policy toward the North.