Hill called for movement from North Korea

Chief US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill called for movement from North Korea on the long-running international row over its nuclear weapons programme after talks with his Russian counterpart. But Hill, who discussed the issue with South Korea's president-elect Lee Myung-Bak in Seoul, backed off from setting any fresh deadlines.

North Korea missed a key December 31 deadline to disable its main nuclear facilities and give a full declaration of its atomic programmes in return for economic aid under a deal agreed in February 2007. Lee, who formally takes office on February 25, has insisted that North Korea should remove all its nuclear weapons before having meaningful aid and economic assistance from the South. Hill, who wants a quick resumption of six-party disarmament talks, has called for patience over the stalemate.