North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has called for the resumption of the six-way nuclear talks without preconditions, saying there is no change in his intention to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Kim as saying in an interview with Russia’s Itar-Tass News Agency on Wednesday that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was a wish of his father, late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, and the North has continued to support the aim.

While urging implementation of the September 19th Joint Statement of the six party talks, Kim added that his country came to possess nuclear deterrence in a bid to protect its sovereignty in the face of the U.S.’s nuclear threats and hostile policies.

On North Korea-U.S. relations, the reclusive leader said he is willing to improve ties with the U.S. if Washington drops its hostile policy toward the North and treats the communist state with good will.