New talks on N Korea's nuclear programme begin

Negotiators at talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions set to work today on the contentious details of how the North will disarm and what it will get in exchange.

Before the six-nation talks opened this morning at a Chinese government guesthouse in Beijing, Washington affirmed its refusal even to discuss the North’s demand for a civilian nuclear reactor until after Pyongyang disarms.