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IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei said in Beijing Wednesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) wanted to come back as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"I met with the DPRK authorities, and discussed how we can have a good relationship between IAEA and DPRK...the visit was quite useful..." said ElBaradei, who arrived here later Wednesday after a two-day visit to DPRK.

The visit "cleared the air" and "opened the door for normal relationship between IAEA and DPRK", ElBaradei told a press conference in the Chinese capital.

At the invitation of DPRK, ElBaradei paid a visit to the country from Tuesday to Wednesday. He met with Kim Yong-dae, DPRK's deputy top legislator, according to the country's official news agency KCNA.

The DPRK said they are ready to fully cooperate with IAEA, and work with the agency to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, ElBaradei said.

"I believe we are moving forward, but it is a complex process which requires input from all sides," he added.

ElBaradei said the DPRK side told him they are willing to accept nuclear inspections but are waiting for the United States to lift its financial sanctions.

During last month's six-nation talks in Beijing, the DPRK agreed to give up its nuclear weapons program and to shut down its Yongbyon reactor by mid-April.

Soon after the talks in Beijing, the UN nuclear chief said on Feb. 23 that DPRK invited him to visit within the next few weeks for talks on its nuclear program.

Mohamed ElBaradei (L), head of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrives at the airport in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), March 13, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

Editor: Yan