DPRK seeks ending of UN Command

On Sunday, the DPRK's National Defense Commission proposed high- level talks with the United States without preconditions "to defuse tension and realize regional peace and security on the Korean Peninsula."

In response, the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea on Wednesday called for "meaningful" steps on denuclearization by Pyongyang in exchange for better ties with them.

"We agreed a path is open for the DPRK toward improved relations with the United States, Japan and the ROK if the DPRK takes meaningful steps on denuclearization," the three countries said after their envoys concluded a trilateral meeting in Washington on issues related to the DPRK.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, including its core goal of the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner," the US State Department said in a statement.

China, Russia, the United States, the DPRK, Japan and the Republic of Korea are the six participating states. The Six-Party Talks is seen as a mechanism for realizing peace and stability in Northeast Asia and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.