Asia cautious over North Korea nuclear talks offer

North Korea’s neighbours reacted cautiously today as the region awoke to news that the isolated communist country was ready to accept a US proposal for six-nation talks aimed at ending a stand-off over its nuclear weapons programmes.

Overnight in Washington, US officials said they received word that North Korea would discuss the issue with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. But North Korea was silent on the matter and its neighbouring countries could not immediately comment.