Use carrot & stick on N Korea: ElBaradei

Mohammed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said that North Korea should accept inspections on its nuclear work by the IAEA as a first step toward resolving the Korean nuclear crisis.

"The international community needs to use both sticks and carrots," ElBaradei told reporters following a meeting with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki.

"Sanctions alone does not, in my view, resolve security issues. We need them to look into a package of incentives for North Korea to come back into negotiations."

Pyongyang agreed to return to the negotiations -- which involve the two Koreas, the United States, host China, Japan and Russia -- after its first nuclear test on October 9 triggered UN-backed sanctions.

The talks are expected to resume in mid-December, but no date has been set despite two days of discussions in Beijing this week among envoys from the United States, North Korea and host China.