Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Returning from a trip to Pyongyang, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il ready for a summit with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at any time. Carter did not personally meet with Kim, but he said that as he and his delegation of former heads of state were on the way to Pyongyang airport to depart for South Korea, they were summoned back to their guesthouse, where a senior official read out a written message from the reclusive leader. "Chairman Kim sent word that he is willing to negotiate with South Korea or United States ... on any subject at any time and without any preconditions," Carter told a news conference. "He specifically told us he is prepared for a summit directly with President Lee Myung-bak at any time to discuss issues between the two heads of state."
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The Elders visited the Korean Peninsula
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Kim Jong Il is "willing to negotiate"
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The declaration puts South Korea's Lee on the spot
South Korea
South Korean
South Korea
South Korea
South Korea
In 2010, 50 South Koreans were killed in the two separate incidents: @placeholder accuses the North of torpedoing and sinking one of its warships in March 2010, killing 46 sailors.
Jimmy Carter
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Carter
Asked by a South Korean reporter if he had raised this issue with the North, @placeholder took a swipe at South Korean and U.S. policies.
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"There are human right issues that relate to the policies of the @placeholder government that I don't think any of us on the outside can change," he said.
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"But one of the most important human rights is to have food to eat and for South Korea and Americans, and others to deliberately to withhold food aid for @placeholder people because of military or political issues unrelated is indeed a human rights violation."
Elders
"I think it is extremely important that we as @placeholder can recommend that there is, as early as possible, a resumption of dialogue on all outstanding issues," he said.
Jimmy Carter
Carter
Carter
Last year, another @placeholder visit to Pyongyang resulted in the freeing of an American citizen held there.
Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Last year, another Carter visit to @placeholder resulted in the freeing of an American citizen held there.
Kim Jong Il
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Kim
Kim Jong Il
However, he had no opportunity to discuss strategic issues, because he was not met by @placeholder.