U.S. `Hopes for Kim Jong-Il`s Return Visit Within the Year`

The American State Department expressed its views on the Chinese President Jiang Zhemin`s North Korea visit on September 4, saying, ``The U.S. welcomes the international society embracing North Korea and is oberving President Jiang`s North Korea visit with keen interest.``

The State Department added, ``We are encouraged to hear that President Jiang stressed the importance of reopening the South-North dialogue and the North-U.S. dialogue to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. We welcome the resumption of the South-North dialogue at an early stage and hope that Chairman Kim will visit Seoul this year.``

``As President George W. Bush stated in his June 6 statement, we will support reconciliation between the South and the North and the stability in the Korean Peninsula. We are prepared to begin the dialogue with North Korea at any time without any preconditions.`` declared the State Department.

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com