SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said he was willing to help North Korea repair its economy and end decades of international isolation if Pyongyang stopped a cycle of threats and finally moved toward nuclear disarmament.

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said he was willing to help North Korea repair its economy and end decades of international isolation if Pyongyang stopped a cycle of threats and finally moved toward nuclear disarmament.

President Barack Obama announced Thursday a US envoy would visit North Korea early next month, as he joined South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in urging the communist state back to nuclear talks.

President Barack Obama announced Thursday a US envoy would visit North Korea early next month, as he joined South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in urging the communist state back to nuclear talks.

State media in communist North Korea, which is grappling with severe food shortages and a crumbling economy, has taken time out to urge its people to keep their hair tidy.

President Barack Obama announced Thursday a US envoy would visit North Korea early next month, as he joined South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in urging the communist state back to nuclear talks.

President Barack Obama announced Thursday a US envoy would visit North Korea early next month, as he joined South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in urging the communist state back to nuclear talks.

President Barack Obama on Thursday said a US envoy would visit North Korea early next month, as he joined South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in urging the communist state back to nuclear talks.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in North Korea Sunday for a high-level visit likely to test the North's willingness to return to talks on scrapping its nuclear programme.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks in North Korea Sunday at the start of a top-level visit likely to test Pyongyang's willingness to return to nuclear disarmament talks it quit earlier this year.

North Korea told visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday that it was open to bilateral and multilateral talks on its nuclear programmes, China's state television reported.

North Korea called Wednesday for a peace pact with the United States, saying this was a "most reasonable and practical" way to end the long standoff over its nuclear weapons programme.

North Korea Wednesday expressed regret to South Korea over the death of six people swept away by a cross-border flood, in a rare admission of blame by the hardline communist state.

North Korea Wednesday expressed regret to South Korea over the death of six people swept away by a cross-border flood, in a rare admission of blame by the hardline communist state.

North Korea Wednesday expressed regret to South Korea over the death of six people swept away by a cross-border flood, in a rare admission of blame by the hardline communist state.

North Korea Wednesday expressed regret to South Korea over the death of six people swept away by a cross-border flood, in a rare admission of blame by the hardline communist state.

BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea's neighbors and the United States are coordinating closely to draw the isolated state back to nuclear disarmament talks and reviewing possible next steps, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday.

Postcard from Pyongyang: American returns to North Korea, finds changed city after 60 years. Daniel Chun peers out of the window of the Air Koryo turboprop from China as it touches down outside Pyongyang, his former home. It has taken him less than two hours to go back nearly 60 years.

North Korea Tuesday accused the United States of stepping up production and deployment of "bunker-buster" bombs targeting its nuclear sites.

North Korea Tuesday accused the United States of stepping up production and deployment of "bunker-buster" bombs targeting its nuclear sites.