U.S. and North Korean finance officials have begun talks in Beijing aimed at resolving a key dispute over U.S. financial restrictions on North Korea-linked companies.

North Korea says it will not abandon nuclear weapons until all sanctions against it are lifted, while the United States says its patience with North Korean negotiating tactics is running out. Roger Wilkison reports on the inauspicious beginning to a new round of six-party talks in Beijing - the first in 13 months, which are aimed at persuading Pyongyang to disarm.

A new round of the on-again, off-again talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program has begun in Beijing after a 13-month hiatus. Roger Wilkison reports from Beijing that China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the United States are trying to determine whether North Korea really is prepared to negotiate following its nuclear test in October.

South Korea's defense minister has instructed military chiefs to raise their ability to respond to possible provocative acts by North Korea, as critical talks on the North Korea's nuclear weapons get set to resume. South Korea says it is crucial for next week's talks to produce first steps toward eliminating Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.

The lead U.S. delegate to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program says he wants to see concrete progress before the end of the year. The Chinese-sponsored negotiations reconvene in Beijing Monday after an interruption of more than a year. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

The Japanese government has told families of Japanese abducted by North Korea that the fate of their relatives will not take a back seat to improving ties with the communist state. VOA's Steve Herman reports from Tokyo, where Japan's government has wrapped up its first conference on the subject of the missing.

China says progress can be made at next week's six-party North Korean nuclear disarmament talks if the participants adopt a flexible and pragmatic attitude. Roger Wilkison reports from Beijing, where the talks will resume after a 13-month boycott by North Korea.

The United Nations' specialist on North Korean human rights is calling for Pyongyang to provide full details about the fate of Japanese abducted by North Korean agents. The appeal came as a Japanese official indicated that the number of abductees is far higher than the 17 officially recognized so far. VOA's Steve Herman reports from Tokyo.

Stalled talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs will resume this month. They are expected to be brief, and many experts are skeptical about whether they will make any serious progress towards ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs.