UN inspectors have verified that North Korea has shut down its sole functioning nuclear reactor, the chief of the watchdog agency said today, confirming Pyongyang's first step to halt production of atomic weapons in nearly five years.

TRAINS from North and South Korea crossed the heavily armed border yesterday, restoring for the first time an artery severed in the 1950-1953 fratricidal war and fanning dreams of unification.

Trains crossed into the two Koreas’ heavily-fortified Demilitarised Zone today in the first rail journey through the border in more than 50 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.