North Korea, branded by Washington as part of an "axis of evil" with Iran and pre-war Iraq, recently offered to freeze its nuclear activities in return for diplomatic concessions and aid as a first step towards a resolution of the dispute.
On Monday, South Korea put forward a united front with the US and Japan, saying the three countries aimed to persuade the North to accept a joint statement pledging to dismantle its nuclear programs, set up a working group to regularize talks and agree to a date for a third round.
China and Russia also said they had reached a separate consensus on tackling the crisis.
RSS