Kim Gye-gwan, head of the North Korean delegation to the six-party talks, said on Tuesday that the US should change its policy of forbidding North Korea's peaceful nuclear development.

"The crux of resolving the nuclear issue is the differences between the policies of North Korea and the US.... The US hasn't decided to accept North Korea's peaceful nuclear program," Kim, who arrived back after the 13-day first phase of the forth round of six-party talks in Beijing, told Xinhua at Pyongyang Sunan Airport.

"If the US really wants to make substantial progress in the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue, it had better make up its mind to change its policy," Kim affirmed.

That is the key for possible achievements in future talks, he added.

It is North Korea's "strategic decision" to abandon nuclear weapons, he said, adding that his country has rights "to develop peaceful nuclear programs."

Although there were many difficulties, talks of the first phase established a "groundwork" for future discussions, Kim noted.

"This is the significance of the talks," he noted.

"Now that we still have differences on the way of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, adjournment is a good idea at this stage," Kim said.

He reiterated that North Korea's stand on settling the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through six-party talks remains unchanged.

He also appreciated China's "great efforts" in managing the fourth round of talks. The preparations for the talks were "sufficient," he said.

Kim Yong-il, North Korean deputy foreign minister who greeted Kim Gye-gwan at the airport, told Xinhua that the North was satisfied with the first phase of the fourth round of talks, comparing with the previous three rounds.

He reiterated that North Korea's stand on settling the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through six-party talks remains unchanged.

"North Korea's stand on the nuclear issue is very clear. Now it depends on the US changing its policy," he said.

The fourth round of talks started July 26 in Beijing. On Sunday, the six parties, China, the US, Russia, Japan, North and South Korea, decided to have a recess and the talks would resume during the week starting August 29 at a date to be agreed upon.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2005)