Dialogue is the only way to resolve the Korean Peninsula and Iran nuclear issues, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said yesterday.

"There is no other solution ... The only way to resolve these issues is not through flexing muscles, but to try to engage the root causes," Mohamed ElBaradei told a news conference on the sidelines of the International Ministerial Conference on nuclear energy in Beijing.

ElBaradei, who described the recent declaration by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of withdrawal from the Six-Party Talks as a "setback", said he hopes Pyongyang rejoins the talks and the IAEA returns to the country.

The DPRK expelled IAEA monitors last week and declared that it would resume nuclear activities after the United Nations' condemnation of its rocket launch on April 5.

"We need to find a solution before they go into building again. The longer we have this hiatus, the worse it will be for the international community," he said.

ElBaradei also called on Iran to respond to a new US proposal, with which he said he is extremely pleased.

On April 15, the US State Department said it is willing to have direct dialogue with Iran. On the same day, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that his country would present a proposal as a starting point for negotiations with the US, China, Britain, France, Russia and Germany.

Analysts said ElBaradei's remarks reveal that he sees an opportunity to address the Iran nuclear issue.

"It's a good sign for the US to propose direct talks with Iran. US President Barack Obama is realistic about Iran's enrichment activity," Hua Liming, former ambassador to Iran, said.

(China Daily March April 21, 2009)