Bush rejects North Korean nuclear offer

HOPES for a new round of nuclear crisis talks this year diminished as US President George W Bush rejected a North Korean nuclear freeze offer.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said Pyongyang would attend a new round of talks only after it received concessions , including an end to US sanctions and the resumption of suspended US oil deliveries. In return, Pyongyang would freeze its nuclear facilities, the spokesman said.

Mr Bush, following White House talks on Tuesday with China's Premier Wen Jiabao , rejected the proposal.