The new U.S. chief delegate to the six-party talks says he is aware of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s reported statement that his country would be willing to rejoin multilateral talks on its nuclear weapons program if certain "conditions" are met.

The delegate, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Christopher Hill, however, refrained to elaborate on the matter, saying he would have to get specific details on the North Korean leader's latest remarks from China.

Hill said during a seminar at the Korea University of Foreign Studies on Tuesday that conditions offered by the United States during the last round of six-party talks still remain valid and that Washington would be willing to explain them to the North anytime upon request.

Hill also warned that the North should take into full consideration that nuclear weapons cannot guarantee its regime any kind of help or future. The ambassador said the North must return to the six-party talks in order to join the international community, adding that the first step to achieve such an end was the abandonment of its nuclear weapons.