Torrential rains in North Korea have forced thousands of families from their homes and left at least 200 people dead, an aid official said.

The UN Security Council should congratulate North Korea for its nuclear test instead of passing “useless” resolutions or statements, the country's UN ambassador said today.

In a diplomatic breakthrough, the Bush administration said it had wooed North Korea back to negotiations on the Koreans’ nuclear weapons program, though a date had not been set for reopening the long-stalled talks.

The US met North Korea yesterday on halting its nuclear weapons programme and withdrew a threat to try to punish the North Koreans soon with UN sanctions.

By Christopher Torchia, Seoul