Kim Jong Il’s son and successor was declared “supreme leader” of North Korea’s ruling party, military and the people during a memorial today for his father in the first public endorsement of his leadership by the government.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son, heir apparent Kim Jong Un, appeared together a massive military parade today held amid celebrations marking the foundation of the country's ruling party.

The United Nations has opened top-level talks with North Korea for the first time in six years, the world body’s political chief said today.

South Korea’s coast guard said it is drawing up guidelines on how to inspect North Korean ships suspected of carrying banned items – a move expected to enrage Pyongyang, which has warned it would consider such inspections a declaration of war.

A thin-looking Kim Jong Il made a rare public appearance today as North Korea paid solemn respects to his father, the country's late founder, on the 15th anniversary of his death.

A North Korean diplomat denied today that leader Kim Jong Il was ill, calling widespread speculation about the leader’s health troubles “nonsense spread by bad people”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had brain surgery after a stroke last month and could have partial paralysis on one side, it was reported today.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Il is on the road to recovery from a stroke and still in control of his isolated country’s communist regime, South Korea has suggested, disputing reports that the leader is gravely ill.

North Korea's deputy leader and ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, has today said that there was "no problem" with the health of leader Kim Jong Il.

The Olympic torch held its first-ever run today in North Korea, where the flame was assured of a trip free of the anti-Chinese protests that marked other legs of the relay.

North Korea’s premier arrived in Seoul today for the first prime ministerial talks with South Korea in 15 years to discuss a reconciliation agreement by their leaders.

Leaders of the two Koreas began formal talks today at the first summit between the divided countries in seven years.

North Korea's number two leader reiterated today his country's pledge to abandon its nuclear weapons, as the impoverished nation sought a resumption of aid at its first high-level talks with South Korea since conducting an atomic test.

North Korea’s No. 2 leader said today any progress at revived talks on the communist nation’s nuclear program will depend on the United States, according to a news report, an indication that any breakthrough at the negotiations could be difficult.

North Korea’s ceremonial head of state vowed today to strengthen the country’s “military deterrent force” in response to US “hostile policy”, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reviewed a massive military parade in central Pyongyang today as the communist state marked the 60th anniversary of its ruling party with vows to “mercilessly crush” American imperialists if they attack.

North and South Korean officials today pledged to cooperate and pursue eventual unification as they celebrated the fifth anniversary of a summit between their leaders under the shadow of the international stand-off over the North’s nuclear ambitions.

North Korea’s deputy leader said today that his communist nation will increase its nuclear deterrent to defend itself against alleged US threats of invasion.

North Korea could return to six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons programs within weeks, a US Congressional delegation said today after a trip to the communist state.

North Korea could rejoin six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons programmes within weeks, a US Congressional delegation said today after a trip to the communist state.

US SECRETARY OF STATE Colin Powell downplayed the significance of a North Korean missile test yesterday, describing it as “fairly innocuous” and “not surprising.”

US Secretary of State Colin Powell today played down the significance of a North Korean missile test, describing it as “fairly innocuous” and “not surprising”.

North Korea’s number two leader assured a summit today that his government currently had no intention of developing nuclear weapons, amid anger over its launch of a missile near Japan.

North Korea is willing to talk about concerns over its nuclear weapons programme, South Korean officials said today.