International talks on North Korea’s nuclear programme stalled again today.

A fresh round of international nuclear talks opened today with negotiators inching closer toward setting a timetable for North Korea’s disarmament after the biggest obstacle hindering discussions was removed – £13m (€19m) in frozen North Korean funds.

ENVOYS to international talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme struggled yesterday to find a compromise as differences emerged over a Chinese proposal on how to begin disarmament.

North Korea expressed its readiness today to discuss initial steps of its nuclear disarmament, raising hopes for the first tangible progress at talks on Pyongyang’s atomic weapons programme in more than three years.