Japan and North Korea Hold Talks

First discussions between the two countries in four years

Officials from Japan and North Korea are holding their first government-to-government talks in four years, amid hopes that the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will adopt a less confrontational approach to relations between his isolated, impoverished communist state and the outside world.

The talks are being held in China, North Korea's closest ally and biggest source of aid, which has been subtly pushing for economic reforms and a more co-operative tone. They are being described as preliminary discussions to pave the way for fuller talks in the future, covering a broader agenda.