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US and N Korea to open key talks US and N Korea in landmark talks
(about 8 hours later)
Senior US and North Korean envoys are due to start key talks in New York aimed at normalising relations. Talks aimed at normalising diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea for the first time in more than 50 years are under way in New York.
The meeting is part of a deal reached last month when North Korea agreed to abandon part of its nuclear programme.The meeting is part of a deal reached last month when North Korea agreed to abandon part of its nuclear programme.
The US State Department says the agenda will cover the US designation of North Korea as a terrorist state as well as the possible lifting of sanctions. On the agenda is the US designation of North Korea as a terrorist state as well as possible lifting of sanctions.
Bilateral talks with the US have long been a condition set by the North for abandoning its nuclear ambitions.Bilateral talks with the US have long been a condition set by the North for abandoning its nuclear ambitions.
Oil pledge Analysts describe it as a breakthrough in efforts to end years of feuding since the US led an international force against the North in the 1950-1953 Korean War.
'Frosty relations'
Monday's meeting at the US mission at the United Nations brings together the two countries' top nuclear negotiators, Christopher Hill and Kim Kye-gwan.Monday's meeting at the US mission at the United Nations brings together the two countries' top nuclear negotiators, Christopher Hill and Kim Kye-gwan.
Analysts say the US will seek assurances that Pyongyang is committed to following through on the nuclear deal, reached during six-party talks in Beijing last month. The BBC's Laura Trevelyan in New York says the meeting is a significant sign that relations between the two countries, frosty for so long, are thawing at least a little.
North Korea is to receive 50,000 tonnes of fuel oil for shutting down its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, which produces enough plutonium for one atom bomb each year. US President George W Bush labelled North Korea part of the "axis of evil" in 2002.
Another 950,000 tonnes of oil have been promised once the reactor has been permanently disabled. Last year North Korea carried out an underground test of a nuclear weapon provoking widespread condemnation by global leaders.
Meanwhile another senior US official, John Negroponte, has arrived in South Korea for talks expected to focus on how to enforce the nuclear deal. In recent months Washington has refused one-on-one debates with North Korea, preferring to hold multi-party talks with South Korea, Japan, Russia and China.
It was at such talks last month in Beijing that North Korea agreed to dismantle its nuclear programme in exchange for economic aid.
Oil pledge
The two nations are now talking and analysts say the US will seek assurances that Pyongyang is committed to following through on the nuclear deal.
Under the agreement North Korea will receive 50,000 tonnes of fuel oil for shutting down its Yongbyon facility, which produces enough plutonium for one atom bomb each year.
Another 950,000 tonnes of oil have been promised once the reactor has been permanently disabled and international inspectors allowed access.
Senior US official John Negroponte has arrived in South Korea for talks expected to focus on how to enforce the nuclear deal.
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, is due to travel to North Korea next week to discuss ways of monitoring dismantled facilities.The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, is due to travel to North Korea next week to discuss ways of monitoring dismantled facilities.