North Korea ? North Korea’s leader is offering to return to multinational disarmament talks in a renewed effort to draw Washington into one-on-one talks that the United States has yet to fully embrace.

Kim Jong Il’s offer, reported Tuesday by North Korean state media, reflects Pyongyang’s desire for direct engagement with Washington. The administration of President Barack Obama has said that might be possible but any talks should be part of the six-nation process aimed at ending the North’s nuclear programs.

Kim told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday that the North “is willing to attend multilateral talks, including the six-party talks, depending on the progress in its talks with the United States,” China’s Xinhua News Agency reported.