The Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japanannounced on September 14 that they are not opposed to direct talksbetween the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea if thesehelp to revive stalled six-nation talks on nuclear disarmament.

“The government is not against a US-DPRK bilateral meeting if it doesnot replace six-party talks and expedites the six-party process aimedat denuclearising the DPRK,” RoK Foreign Ministry spokesman MoonTae-Young was quoted by the AFP as saying.

Meanwhile, on the same theme, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister MitojiYabunaka said that Japan accepts the US idea of engaging in directbilateral talks as long as it is under the framework of the six-partytalks on disbanding Pyongyang 's nuclear arsenal.

“If it is to help the six-party talks move forward, it is one effort (that can be made),” he was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

“Our idea is that the six-party talks are the most effective andrealistic venue to deal with this (nuclear) issue. And dialogue betweenthe US and the DPRK has already taken place within that framework,”Yabunaka added.

Earlier on September 11, Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary ofState for public affairs, said the US is prepared to meet the DPRK in abilateral discussion as part of efforts to convince the North to returnto the stalled six-party nuclear talks.

Crowley , however, denied the move amounted to a significantpolicy change and suggested it amounted to a tactical shift when hecalled it a "short-term" measure to bring the DPRK back to the talks./.