South Korea ? North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly said Friday his country is ready to engage in multilateral talks, the latest move in a diplomatic chess game with the U.S. and regional powers seeking to rid Pyongyang of nuclear weapons.

“North Korea would like to solve relevant issues through bilateral and multilateral talks,” China’s official Xinhua News Agency quoted Kim as telling a special envoy sent by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Kim’s remarks heightened the possibility of Pyongyang’s return to stalled six-party disarmament negotiations it defiantly quit earlier this year.

Though Kim did not appear to specify the forum — which involves the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan — North Korea watchers believe that is the signal he is sending.