US open to nuclear talks with North Korea

After three years of diplomatic deadlock, the US wants to reopen nuclear talks with North Korea.

A picture made available on 19 April 2015 by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Mount Paekdu. (EPA/KCNA)

A picture made available on 19 April 2015 by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Mount Paekdu. (EPA/KCNA) Source: YNA / KCNA

The Obama administration says it's open to holding preliminary talks with North Korea to see if there's a chance of ridding the country of nuclear weapons.

A senior South Korean envoy travelled to Washington and Beijing this past week as nations involved in long-stalled aid-for-disarmament negotiations considered their options.

It remains unclear if a diplomatic overture to North Korea will even get to first base.

North Korea appears intent on retaining its nuclear weapons, and a senior US official says the North has yet to show a serious interest in re-engaging on the issue.

President Barack Obama has broken the ice with other long-standing adversaries such as Iran, Cuba and Myanmar.

An attempt to negotiate a nuclear freeze by North Korea in 2012 failed.


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Source: AAP



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