N.KOREAN NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT TO BRING REWARDS: S.KOREAN MINISTER.

SEOUL, Jan 1 Asia Pulse - North Korea can expect to improve ties with the U.S. and get energy and other aid simultaneously with its moves to dismantle its nuclear program, South Korea's foreign minister said Monday.

The remarks by Song Min-soon confirmed a set of improved incentives the U.S. reportedly had offered for North Korea to give up its nuclear intentions during the latest round of six-party talks that ended in Beijing 10 days ago.

"When the process of dismantling nuclear programs begins, the process of normalization of U.S.-North Korea relations will be launched at the same time," Song told Yonhap News Agency in an interview. "The matter on the economic and energy assistance will also go together."

Song said he believes that the new U.S. proposals included something attractive for North Korean officials to review in their capital.

"The North Korean delegates went back to Pyongyang with the U.S. proposals and I think they have been reviewing them in a sincere, careful manner." he said. "We hope the North come out with practical measures to discuss again."

The first North Korean response is expected to be known when their financial specialists meet U.S. Treasury officials in New York presumably next week to discuss a prolonged row over a Macau-based bank linked with the communist country.

In the Dec. 18-22 meeting in Beijing that also involved South Korea, host China, Japan and Russia, North Korea insisted that it can't discuss its nuclear issue unless U.S. financial curbs imposed on the Macau-based bank are lifted.