French envoy in NKorea for talks on establishing diplomatic ties, nuclear standoff

French envoy in NKorea for talks on ties, nukes

NKorea claims it is expanding arsenal of nuclear bombs, pressures US to agree to direct talks

NKorea claims to expand arsenal of atomic bombs

Into North Korean nuclear tangle steps France, with diplomatic mission that puzzles US

France wades into bog of North Korean diplomacy

NKorea claims completion of reprocessing nuclear fuel rods to extract weapons-grade plutonium

NKorea raises threat to get US into direct talks

NKorea pressures US to agree to directs, threatens to expand nuclear arsenal otherwise

NKorea threatens to expand nuclear arsenal

NKorea demands bilateral talks with US, warning Pyongyang will ‘go own way’ otherwise

North Korea demands direct talks with US

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea pressed the United States to accept its demand for direct talks on the communist regime’s nuclear program, issuing a veiled threat Monday that Pyongyang will expand its nuclear arsenal unless Washington agrees.

Former South Korean spy chief, broker of historic 1972 peace deal with NKorea, dies

Former South Korean spy master Lee Hu-rak dies

Pyongyang says South Korean crossed DMZ to defect to North Korea, is under ‘warm care’

Pyongyang: SKorean crossed DMZ to defect to NKorea

Postcard from Pyongyang: American returning home to NKorea finds changed city after 60 years

American returns to NKorean hometown as tourist

Postcard from Pyongyang: American returns to North Korea, finds changed city after 60 years

American sees changes in his North Korean hometown

South Korea says progress in nuclear talks key condition for summit with North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea said that progress in efforts to end North Korea’s nuclear programs is a key condition for holding a summit with the communist nation.

US defense chief Gates says US won’t accept nuclear-armed North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea — Top American defense officials maintained a tough stand Wednesday against North Korea, calling its threat more lethal than ever even as an envoy from the communist regime was headed to the United States to discuss nuclear programs.

SKorea to help NKorea modernize cross-border military hot lines

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is providing North Korea with optical cables and other equipment to help modernize military hot lines between the two nations, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.

Billy Graham’s son meets with North Korea’s top diplomat

SEOUL, South Korea — The son of veteran evangelist Billy Graham had a “friendly conversation” Wednesday with North Korea’s foreign minister, the state news agency said, as the American brought one of the first shipments of U.S. aid to the country in months.

Top diplomat says US-NKorea talks hinge on renewed Pyongyang commitment to six-party process

BEIJING — The United States will not meet directly with North Korea until Pyongyang commits to rejoining six-nation disarmament talks and abides by commitments to dismantle its nuclear programs, a top U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.

China, South Korea, Japan agree to work on resuming six-party talks over North Korea

BEIJING — North Korea appears keen to improve ties with the U.S. and its neighbors in Asia and perhaps rejoin nuclear disarmament talks, China’s premier said Saturday, urging fellow leaders not to let the opportunity slip away.

China, Japan, SKorea hold talks to renew push for breakthrough on NKorean nuclear impasse

BEIJING — Leaders of China, Japan and South Korea began talks Saturday in Beijing amid signs that pressure on North Korea to rejoin nuclear disarmament negotiations may be yielding results.

South Korea, Japanese leaders: No aid to North Korea before denuclearization

SKorea, Japan say no aid until NKorea disarms

SKorea says UN sanctions on NKorea will remain in place

SEOUL, South Korea — U.N. sanctions on North Korea must remain in place even if the communist nation comes back to international nuclear disarmament talks, South Korea’s foreign minister said Thursday.

China envoy says North Korea’s new attitude on nuclear talks is step in the right direction

BEIJING — China’s top envoy on North Korean issues said Wednesday that Pyongyang’s readiness to hold discussions with the U.S. is a positive development that could pave the way for a resumption of stalled international talks on the North’s nuclear program.

French envoy calls for substantial nuclear talks on NKorea

Analysis: Despite prospect of talks with US, NKorea seen unlikely to give up nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON — North Korea’s suggestion that it may return to nuclear negotiations could open the way to its first talks with the Obama administration, but there are warning signs that the North has no intention of fully disarming.