North Korea talks end without breakthrough

Six-nation talks on Washington’s demand for North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions ended today with no breakthrough, but envoys promised to discuss the ”first steps for de-nuclearisation” of the North before meeting again by the end of September.

The United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia agreed to hold low-level discussions as soon as possible to define the North’s initial moves toward disarmament, how they would be monitored and what kind of aid it could expect in return.