John Negroponte, the deputy U.S. secretary of state, says North Korea will have to comply with its promise to shut down its nuclear reactor before the United States lifts financial sanctions it imposed. Catherine Makino reports for VOA from Tokyo.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today accused Iranian officials of misleading the international community while continuing its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.

For the most part, international experts are praising the agreement reached in Beijing this week as a good first step toward ending North Korea's nuclear-weapons programs. It is the next, very daunting steps in the process that cause them concern.

Over the past few years, China has been a major player in the six-party talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. The next round is scheduled to begin February 8 in Beijing. The first round took place in August 2003. In this background report from Washington, VOA Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera looks at the relationship between China and North Korea.

Envoys from the United States and North Korea meet in China next week to discuss U.S. financial sanctions on Pyongyang's foreign assets. The U.S. Treasury Department says Friday its top negotiator, Daniel Glaser, will lead a delegation to Beijing Tuesday.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Muhammad el-Baradei, has warned that a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities could have "catastrophic consequences" and would only encourage Iran to develop an atomic bomb.

Nuclear envoys from North and South Korea have met in Beijing as part of attempts to resume six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

Washington's chief envoy to multinational talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program says discussions will continue for one more full day before he returns home. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Beijing, where the talks are being held, Pyongyang reportedly remains intensely focused on financial sanctions issues.