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, state media in the isolated country reported.

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.

SKorean, Japanese leaders say NKorea should not be offered aid until it takes steps to disarm. Impoverished North Korea should be given no aid unless it abandons the pursuit of nuclear weapons, the leaders of South Korea and Japan said Friday, forging a united stance before traveling to China for talks on how to get Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.

North Korea reportedly test-fires 5 short-range missiles, may fire more. North Korea reportedly test-launched five short-range missiles ? and may fire more ? in what analysts said is an attempt to improve its bargaining position ahead of possible talks with the United States.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea was preparing to fire a fresh barrage of short-range missiles, a report said on Tuesday, in a move seen as an attempt to boost its bargaining position ahead of expected talks on ending its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea asks for renewed aid from South Korea in exchange for help reuniting families. North Korea has asked South Korea to resume humanitarian aid in return for the North's cooperation in reuniting more families divided by their sealed border, officials said.

Reports: Cyberattacks that triggered Web outages in July traced to North Korea. The North Korean government was the source of high-profile cyberattacks in July that caused Web outages in South Korea and the United States, news reports said Friday.

North Korea Monday pressed the United States to hold direct talks on ending their nuclear standoff, and vowed to "go its own way" if Washington refuses to do so.

North Korea on Monday pressed the United States to hold direct talks on ending their nuclear stand-off and vowed to "go its own way" if Washington refuses to do so.

NKorea claims it is expanding arsenal of nuclear bombs, pressures US to agree to direct talks. North Korea claimed Tuesday that it has successfully weaponized more plutonium for atomic bombs, a day after warning Washington to agree quickly to direct talks or face the prospect of a growing North Korean nuclear arsenal.

A North Korean patrol boat was badly damaged as the navies of North and South Korea exchanged fire on Tuesday, officials said, heightening tensions in one of the world's most sensitive military flashpoints.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a US presidential visit.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a US presidential visit.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a scheduled US presidential visit.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a scheduled US presidential visit.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a scheduled US presidential visit.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as tensions rose a week before a scheduled US presidential visit.

A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a scheduled US presidential visit.