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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| North Korea talks 'set to resume' | North Korea talks 'set to resume' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme are to resume soon, China's foreign ministry has confirmed. | Six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme are to resume soon, China's foreign ministry has confirmed. |
| Agreement came after an informal meeting in Beijing between North Korea, China and the US, the ministry said. | Agreement came after an informal meeting in Beijing between North Korea, China and the US, the ministry said. |
| The talks stalled a year ago after Pyongyang pulled out in protest at US financial sanctions imposed upon it. | The talks stalled a year ago after Pyongyang pulled out in protest at US financial sanctions imposed upon it. |
| North Korea alarmed the world by testing a nuclear weapon earlier this month, prompting the UN to impose financial and arms sanctions. | |
| China's foreign ministry said on its website that envoys from China, the US and North Korea met on Tuesday and "had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on continuing efforts to advance the process of the six-party talks". | China's foreign ministry said on its website that envoys from China, the US and North Korea met on Tuesday and "had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on continuing efforts to advance the process of the six-party talks". |
| All three agreed the talks "be held soon at a time convenient to the six parties". | All three agreed the talks "be held soon at a time convenient to the six parties". |
| US officials confirmed US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the US envoy to the North Korean nuclear stand-off, met his North Korean and Chinese counterparts on Tuesday. | |
| Ongoing crisis | |
| The talks - which involve South Korea, Japan and Russia as well as China, North Korea and the US - began in 2003 to find a way to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. | The talks - which involve South Korea, Japan and Russia as well as China, North Korea and the US - began in 2003 to find a way to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. |
| They appeared to make an historic breakthrough in September 2005 when North Korea announced it would give up its nuclear activities and rejoin the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. | They appeared to make an historic breakthrough in September 2005 when North Korea announced it would give up its nuclear activities and rejoin the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. |
| But within months optimism crumbled as North Korea withdrew from the talks in protest at US financial sanctions, under which about $24m (£14m) of funds have been frozen. | But within months optimism crumbled as North Korea withdrew from the talks in protest at US financial sanctions, under which about $24m (£14m) of funds have been frozen. |
| North Korea's decision to test seven missiles in July and then carry out a nuclear weapon test on 9 October drew international condemnation. | |
| UN Security Council members - including Pyongyang's key ally China - agreed to sanctions targeting North Korea's missile and weapons programmes as well as luxury goods and a travel ban. |