N Korea returns to disarmament talks

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BEIJING, Jul 10 (AFP): North Korea returned Thursday to international talks on its nuclear activities after a nine-month break, raising cautious hopes the reclusive regime will take another step towards disarmament.

Envoys from the six nations involved in the long-running talks gathered in Beijing in an effort to capitalise on recent progress that saw the North last month finally hand over a declaration of its atomic activities.

China's foreign ministry said the talks, which are tentatively scheduled to last three days, began late on Thursday afternoon.

The United States responded to the nuclear declaration by easing some trade sanctions and beginning the process of taking the North off its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The talks had not been held for nine months amid a stalemate over the declaration.