North Korea ‘hedging bets’ on nuclear issue

NORTH KOREA yesterday said future nuclear talks with America would be a waste of time if Washington insists the communist country first scrap its suspected atomic weapons programmes.

The statement came a day after US ecretary of State Colin Powell said the US was reviewing a North Korean offer to give up its missiles and nuclear facilities in exchange for substantial American economic benefits.

The North Koreans floated the proposal in talks with US envoys in the Chinese capital Beijing last week.