Seoul, Feb. 18 -- Preparations for the US and North Korea are "well underway" in Washington, according to Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Chung Dong-young on Monday.

Chung, who was minister of unification in 2004-5 for late President Roh Moo-hyun, told The Korea Herald that after a series of meetings with mainly Republican figures, he was under the impression that talks between the US and North Korea "may materialize over this year."

Chung, as part of the bipartisan delegation of five lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties, returned Sunday from Washington. Aside from Chung, the delegation included Democratic Party Reps. Wi Sung-lac and Kim Young-ho and People Power Party Reps. Cho Kyung-tae and Bae June-young.

"I was told that...