Korean leaders agree to meet

Seoul - The presidents of North and South Korea have agreed to meet each other, in a surprising twist to the international crisis over North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons programme, writes Terry McCarthy. The proposal for the historic meeting came from the North's 82-year-old 'Great Leader', Kim Il Sung, and sidesteps US demands for full inspections of Pyongyang's nuclear facilities before any further negotiations can take place.

Former US President Jimmy Carter yesterday brought a message from Pyongyang saying Kim Il Sung would meet his southern counterpart 'at any time and any place'. In Seoul, President Kim Young Sam accepted the offer within hours.

Inside Story, page 15

Carter's comeback, page 19