S. Korea: North must open talks with U.S.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - South Korean President Kim Dae-jung said Wednesday that communist North Korea has no alternative but to start talks with the United States for political survival and economic stability. <br> <br> U.S.-North Korea relations stumbled after President Bush said in January that North Korea was part of ``an axis of evil&#39;&#39; along with Iran and Iraq, accusing them of trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. <br> <br> ``I think dialogue between the United States and North Korea will eventually be opened,&#39;&#39; Kim said during an inspection tour of the Foreign Ministry. ``North Korea has no other path to take except dialogue.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``What North Korea needs most now is safeguards for its political system and economic assistance, and only the United States can provide this,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> Kim&#39;s remarks were released by his chief spokeswoman, Park Sun-sook. <br> <br> During a visit to South Korea in February, Bush said his view of North Korea had not changed but he offered to start talks aimed at resolving the communist country&#39;s alleged development of weapons of mass destruction. North Korea rejected the offer. <br> <br> Kim expressed disappointment at this rejection, but said South Korea should do its best to help mediate between the two sides. He said that inter-Korean ties - currently frozen - were closely related to progress in U.S.-North Korea relations. <br> <br> ``Realistically, what is clear for now is that the United States is the world&#39;s only superpower. Good or bad, that is reality. North Korea should recognize it,&#39;&#39; Kim said. <br> <br> Inter-Korean relations warmed after a historic summit between Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000. Kim Dae-jung won that year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize for his effort to reconcile with the North. But the reconciliation process stalled after Bush took office last year. <br> <br> Kim also commented on the defection to South Korea this week of 25 North Koreans who barged their way into the Spanish Embassy in Beijing to seek asylum. <br> <br> The South Korean president said the North&#39;s refugee problems would not end unless the reclusive, communist country&#39;s economy recovers. <br> <br> North Korea relies on outside help to feed its 22 million people. Most North Korean defectors complain about severe food and energy shortages.