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.

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 top South Korean industrialist Friday extended her stay in North Korea after securing the release of a detained employee, fuelling speculation she will meet leader Kim Jong-Il.

A top South Korean industrialist Friday extended her stay in North Korea after securing the release of a detained employee, fuelling speculation she will meet leader Kim Jong-Il.

A top South Korean industrialist Friday extended her stay in North Korea after securing the release of a detained employee, fuelling speculation she will meet leader Kim Jong-Il.

A top South Korean industrialist Friday extended her stay in North Korea after securing the release of a detained employee, fuelling speculation she will meet leader Kim Jong-Il.

North Korea Thursday freed a South Korean worker it had detained since March, raising hopes of better cross-border relations after 18 months of bitter hostility from the communist state.

North Korea Thursday freed a South Korean worker it had detained since March, raising hopes of better cross-border relations after 18 months of bitter hostility from the communist state.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Former President Kim Dae-jung, a giant in South Korea's shift to democracy who won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to forge a reconciliation with the prickly communist North, died on Tuesday at the age of 85.

A top South Korean industrialist Friday extended her stay in North Korea after securing the release of a detained employee, fuelling speculation she will meet leader Kim Jong-Il.

A top South Korean industrialist Friday extended her stay in North Korea after securing the release of a detained employee, fuelling speculation she will meet leader Kim Jong-Il.