U.S And North Korea Hold Nuclear Talks

Officials of the United States and North Korea have met for their first talks on the North’s nuclear program since the death in December of longtime North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Il and the subsequent transition of power to his son Kim Jong-Un.

The discussions on February 23 in the Chinese capital Beijing brought together U.S. envoy Glyn Davies and North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan.

The talks -- the third round between the U.S. and North Korea since July -- are aimed at restarting wider six-nation negotiations on ways for North Korea to abolish its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea quit the six-country talks – which also involve China, Japan, Russia and South Korea -- in 2009 and later tested its second nuclear device.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa