The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has made a verbal reply to the letter of U.S. President George W. Bush earlier this month, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Friday.

"We received a verbal reply," Johndroe said, adding that it was made through "New York diplomatic channels."

"All members of the six-party talks look forward to the full implementation of the Sept. 19, 2005, Joint Statement and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said, without disclosing details of the verbal reply.

In a letter dated Dec. 1 to DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il, Bush held out the prospect of normal diplomatic ties with the DPRK and meanwhile stressed the principle of "actions for actions" in the process of dismantling the country's nuclear program, according to U.S. officials.

It is widely regarded that the letter marked an apparent shift of attitude by Bush toward the DPRK, a country once he branded as one of the "axis of evil."

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2007)