Korean arms talks stall

Capitalist South and Stalinist North Korea met at their fortified Cold War frontier yesterday, but failed to make progress in a row over the North's suspected development of nuclear weapons, Reuter reports from Seoul.

The two sides discussed a proposed exchange visit by special envoys, which Seoul hopes will prove a turning point in efforts to remove suspicions over the nuclear programme. 'The talks ended inconclusively. Both sides only agreed to meet again on 15 October,' a Southern official said.