Rice in talks with N. Korea

SINGAPORE - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pushed North Korea yesterday to accept terms to verify the dismantling of its nuclear weapons program as the two countries held Cabinet-level talks for the first time in four years. Rice told Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun that his nation must move quickly to prove it has told the truth about its past atomic activities if it wants to improve ties with the United States and North Korea's immediate neighbors, and end its international isolation. "We didn't get into specific timetables, but the spirit was good because people believe we have made progress," she said after the meeting on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore. "There is also a sense of urgency about moving forward and a sense that we can't afford to have another hiatus," Rice said of her talks with Pak and the... [read full story]