Envoy slams North's rights record

North Korea said last night that it wants to reach a peace treaty quickly to replace the ceasefire that ended the Korean War in order to build trust with the United States and revive nuclear disarmament talks. But the Obama Administration's point man for human rights in North Korea, Robert King, said ties can only improve once Pyongyang ends its systemic abuse of its citizens.

King said: "It's one of the worst places in terms of lack of human rights. The situation is appalling." The administration has said Washington can discuss a treaty once the North ends its nuclear arms programme.