Trio in show of unity on North Korean issue

The US, Japan and South Korea have said they will not resume nuclear negotiations with North Korea until it ends its "provocative and belligerent" behaviour and takes concrete steps to roll back its nuclear arms programme.

"They need to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose in ending their provocations and let the world know they are now ready to come to the table and fulfil the commitments they have already made," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said after meeting Japanese foreign minister Seiji Maehara and his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan in Washington.