SEOUL (AP): North Korea marked the anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party on Friday amid questions about leader Kim Jong Il's health and indications that Washington was close to convincing the North to resume dismantling its nuclear program.

Tensions have been high since Pyongyang stopped disabling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in mid-August as required under an international disarmament-for-aid accord and moved toward restarting the facility.

North Korea blamed the U.S., saying Washington reneged on a promise to remove the nation from its terrorism blacklist.

In Washington, U.S. officials said late Thursday that the Bush administration was nearing a decision to remove North Korea from the blacklist _ and may do so as early as Friday _ in a bid to salvage the stalled disarmament process.

North Korea first must agree to a plan to allow outside verification of its nuclear program, diplomats said. They spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of an expected announcement.

South Korean officials said Friday they could not confirm any progress on the nuclear talks.

On Friday, North Korea's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper marked the 63rd anniversary of the party's 1945 foundation with a routine call to citizens to unite around the North's autocratic leader.

``The entire party, the military and the people should uphold the military-first leadership of comrade Kim Jong Il in one mind,'' the paper said in a lengthy editorial carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. ``The general's military-first leadership is the lifeline of our party and revolution.''

The editorial did not mention the nuclear standoff or Kim's health.

The anniversary typically is a major holiday in North Korea, along with the birthdays of Kim and his late father, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. However, celebrations appeared muted this year.

The anniversary would have been a chance for Kim to appear in public to quell speculation about his health after he missed a key ceremony last month marking the country's foundation 60 years ago.

Kim, believed to suffer from diabetes, heart disease and other ailments, reportedly suffered a stroke in August. However, North Korean officials have denied he is ill.

KCNA sent a report on Aug. 14 saying Kim inspected a military unit _ but made no further mention of Kim's public appearances for nearly two months.

Last Saturday, KCNA reported that Kim watched a football game _ but did not specify where or when he saw the match. South Korean officials said they have been unable to verify Kim's reported appearance.

Analysts say Kim is unlikely to make an appearance for the Workers' Party anniversary this year because 63 is not considered a milestone year, and because KCNA already has reported on the reclusive leader's whereabouts earlier in the week.

``If Kim Jong Il doesn't show up, it shouldn't be taken as a factor fueling speculation about his health,'' said Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University.