North Korea reportedly told Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo during his recent visit there that it could review partially accepting nuclear inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A senior official says this information was conveyed to South Korea during China's briefing to Seoul on a visit to the North by Dai, who met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il while in Pyongyang.

But the official said it is not known whether Kim himself made the remark.

The official also says that even if North Korea appears to be willing to accept partial inspections, there's nearly no chance that Pyongyang would disclose its entire nuclear program.

The Foreign Ministry in Seoul, meanwhile, says it has not been informed about North Korea’s stated will to accept partial inspections by the IAEA.

In a media release, a ministry official said Thursday that when China briefed Seoul on Dai's visit, the briefing included no such change in North Korea's attitude.

Another official says that according to China, Kim Jong-il is aware of the issue regarding the potential resumption of IAEA inspections but that it is not known whether he has approved such a move.

Pyongyang announced in April 2009 that it was pulling out of the six-party nuclear talks and resuming operation of its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon. It also banished IAEA inspectors from the North.