"I found him sceptical on the chances to really arrive at results with the North Koreans," Alliot-Marie told reporters.

She noted however that it was "not necessarily the attitude of the whole South Korean government of which certain members are probably more optimistic."

The French minister's visit comes at the time of intense efforts to implement an agreement signed in Beijing on February 13 under which Pyongyang promised to begin dismantling its nuclear programme within two months in exchange for energy aid and diplomatic concessions.

A new series of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme is due to start on Monday in the Chinese capital.

According to Alliot-Marie's entourage, Kim asserted that there was "not much confidence between the two Koreas" who therefore "need time."

Touching on this issue and the rising might of the Chinese military, whose budget will increase by nearly 18 percent to about 45 billion dollars this year, the French minister indicated that her South Korean counterpart had insisted on the need to establish "transparency and confidence."

"It is normal that a country as large as China is preoccupied with having an army of this strength," Alliot-Marie said, repeating her call for "transparency" so "there are no suspicions over the Chinese intentions and that this goes in the direction of peace".

The minister, who arrived Friday in Seoul from Japan, is also due to meet South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who favours reconciliation with the North.

She will also visit Panmunjon, in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas before departing on Sunday for China on the last leg of her tour of Northeast Asia.

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