North Korea in nuclear talks

THE White House yesterday downplayed North Korea’s threats to cut off nuclear arms talks with the United States and other countries.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said a new series of talks would take place in the coming weeks, adding that the US hoped to send a “clear message” urging North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons.

North Korea launched a fresh verbal attack against US President George Bush yesterday, calling him a “fascist tyrant” as a South Korean official headed to China in the latest effort toward resolving the nuclear row with Pyongyang.