NKorean nuclear disarmanent talks resume: SKorean official

Talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes resumed here Thursday after a nine-month break, a South Korean official said, with envoys looking to verify a declaration of Pyongyang's atomic activities.

"The chief delegates of all the countries briefly posed for a photo, shook hands and walked into the conference room," the official who is involved in the talks told reporters.

The talks, which began in 2003, involve China as host, the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia.

An agreement was secured to restart the dialogue after North Korea handed over a declaration of its nuclear activities in late June.

(Agencies)