N.K. hopes for rapprochement with U.S.

North Korea stressed Thursday that the improvement of its relations with the United States would contribute to peace and security on the Korean peninsula, pledging to make efforts to this end.

A commentary carried in the Rodong Shinmun, Pyongyang's mouth piece, said that improved N.K.-U.S. relations would be compatible with the aspirations and interests of the two peoples and that the North would exert sincere efforts to develop bilateral relations on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference.

Stating that the joint declaration between the two countries on the North Korean missile issue is a historical diplomatic document reaffirming the mutual resolve for the improvement of their relations, the Worker¡¯s Party organ claimed that it had international validity and therefore the two governments have obligations to implement the joint communique.

U. S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang recently and engaged in intensive discussions on the problems related to bilateral diplomatic normalization, the paper said, noting that her North Korean visit helped her understand and evaluate "our country."