Tokyo, July 23, SPA -- North Korea has told the United States it isready for visits from President George W. Bush or Secretaryof State Condoleeza Rice as a step toward normalizingrelations, a news report said Saturday. North Korea relayed the message during a meeting ofdiplomats from the two countries held in New York in lateJune and early July, Kyodo News agency reported fromBeijing citing diplomatic sources it didn't identify. Thosemeetings were attended by Joseph DeTrani, the U.S. specialenvoy for North Korean negotiations, and Ri Gun, chief ofthe North Korean Foreign Ministry's U.S. AffairsDepartment. U.S. representatives said North Korea should also sendsenior officials to the United States, but the discussionsended without any commitments after North Korean officialsexpressed doubt about Washington's intentions to issuevisas for a visiting delegation, Kyodo said. North Korea and the United States are preparing for a newround of six-nation talks aimed at dismantling thecommunist country's nuclear weapons program. Thenegotiations, which also include delegates from SouthKorea, Japan, China and Russia, are set to begin in Beijingon Tuesday after a 13-month hiatus.--SPA1406 Local Time 1106 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/278593