Pyongyang ‘rules out’ nuclear talks resumption

BEIJING: North Korea has “no thoughts” of resuming six-party talks on its nuclear program, a top Pyongyang official said on Thursday in Beijing, despite the repeated urgings of its closest ally China.

The North quit the now-stalled negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear weapons programmed in 2009, and soon afterwards carried out its second atomic test. The talks are hosted by China, and include South Korea, the United States, Russia, and Japan.