Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Sat 12 Dec 2006Talks on ending N Korea nuclear issue collapseNORTH KOREA:Six-country talks aimed at resolving the nuclear stand-off on the Korean peninsula ended in deadlock yesterday and the North Koreans warned they would steer clear of any further talks until Washington lifted financial restrictions.The collapse of this fifth round of talks highlights the huge gulf between the US and North Korea, and the lack of trust has become worse since North Korea tested a nuclear device on October 9th. Delegates from the North Korean capital Pyongyang said the country would boost its arsenal of nuclear weapons as a response to what it sees as pressure from the US.