US, South Korea urge Pyongyang to return to nuclear talks (Second Lead)

US President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung Bak Thursday urged North Korea to return to nuclear talks, suggesting a "grand bargain" solution to end the dispute over the Stalinist state's nuclear weapons programme.

Obama said he planned to send his special envoy to North Korea Dec 8 in a bid to restart stalled multinational talks to end Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

Speaking at a press conference in Seoul on the final leg of his Asian tour, Obama said the trip by Stephen Bosworth, the US special representative for North Korea policy, should help revive the six-party talks, which North Korea abandoned in April.

China, South Korea, Russia and Japan also participate in the talks.

The two leaders reaffirmed their unity in approaching the North Korea issue, saying they were seeking to break the pattern where Pyongyang first ratchets up tension, then agrees to talks only to break them off again.

"The thing I want to emphasise is that President Lee and I both agree that we want to break the pattern that existed in the past, in which North Korea behaves in a provocative fashion, and then is willing to return to talks ... and then that leads to seeking further concessions," Obama said.

Lee again mooted a "grand bargain" solution, in which Pyongyang would shut down its nuclear programme for good in return for substantial aid.

"I hope that by accepting our proposal, the North will secure safety for itself, improve the quality of life for its people and open the path to a new future," the South Korean president said.

Other subjects for discussion were the US-South Korean security alliance and the planned ratification of a free-trade deal.

Obama and Lee stressed that bilateral relations had never been better than now.

On his first Asian tour Obama has already visited Japan, Singapore, where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and China.

After visiting a US military base near Seoul, the US president is due to fly home later Thursday.

Last updated on Nov 19^th, 2009 at 13:07 pm IST--DPA