Obama in direct appeal to reclusive North Koren leader

US President Barack Obama has written a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il as part of an intense effort to draw the reclusive nation back to nuclear disarmament talks.

Officials said the letter was delivered to North Korean officials last week by Mr Obama’s special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, during a visit to Pyongyang aimed at restarting the stalled negotiations.