North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su-hon says his government welcomes a visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill to Pyongyang if it is for resolving the nuclear standoff.

In a news conference after delivering a speech to the 60th U.N. General Assembly Thursday, Choe also said the North's demand for a light-water reactor is not a precondition for implementing the joint statement adopted at the latest round of the six-party nuclear talks.

The North had earlier said the reactor's provision must precede Pyongyang's nuclear dismantlement.

Reuters and other foreign news agencies predict the North will not attach preconditions to Hill's visit as long as it is for discussing the nuclear issue.

Choe also said the next round of the talks will address all problems, adding the North's reactor demand should not obstruct follow-up measures to the agreement on a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.