US to meet with North Korea in bid to end crisis

AMERICAN and North Korean officials are to meet in Beijing to discuss North Korea's nuclear programme, the source of rising tensions in the region.

According to US officials, the meeting will take place next week and the Chinese government will also participate. The meeting will be the first direct, high-level talks between Washington and Pyongyang since the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme erupted in October.

North Korea had previously insisted on one-to-one talks with the United States, but last week hinted it was ready to drop that condition.