SEOUL, South Korea — Top negotiators from the United States, Japan and South Korea will meet over the weekend to discuss resuming nuclear-disarmament talks with North Korea, after communist leader Kim Jong Il hinted at a possible compromise, officials said today.

Resuming the stalled talks gained urgency after North Korea declared on Feb. 10 that it possessed nuclear weapons and said it would not rejoin the six-party talks. On Monday, Kim told a visiting Chinese envoy that his government would return to the negotiating table if certain conditions are met.

"We will go to the negotiating table anytime if there are mature conditions for the six-party talks thanks to the concerted efforts of the parties concerned in the future," the reclusive leader told the envoy, according to Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency. He expressed the hope that the United States would show "trustworthy sincerity," it said.

The United States wants a verifiable nuclear freeze and dismantling of weapons as part of any deal.

North Korea says it remains convinced Washington wants to topple its regime. China, the North's only remaining major ally, urged the United States and North Korea to be more flexible in resolving the stand-off.

Kim said in a rare comment on the nuclear dispute that his government remained committed to a peaceful solution.