US says it will not attack North Korea

THE United States said yesterday it was ready to tell North Korea it has no intention of attacking the reclusive state, which had fired off volleys of abuse, demanding to meet Washington over the nuclear crisis.

A South Korean envoy prepared to go to Pyongyang and the UN nuclear watchdog considered delaying an emergency meeting after Seoul urged the world body last week to give diplomacy a chance.

In Davos, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the US is prepared to convey to North Korea it has no intention of attacking it.