Seoul  - South Korea on Sunday expressed pessimism ahead of the next round of international talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Speaking before his flight to Beijing where the six-party talks are begin at a nearly five-month pause, South Korean envoy Kim Sook said he was "not at all optimistic" concerning the prospects for success of the negotiations, but one would have to wait and see.

The goal of the talks to start Monday is to be a "protocol" in which the inspection of North Korean nuclear activities are to be recorded in writing, Kim was quoted by the KBS broadcaster as saying.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- U. S. and North Korean diplomats discussed denuclearization of the Korean peninsula Friday in advance of next week's formal meeting, the State Department said.

Christopher Hill, assistant U. S. secretary of State, and the North Korean delegation Friday "had a useful exchange of views on verification" protocols for dismantling North Korea's nuclear program, department spokesman Robert Wood said.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5  -- U. S. and North Korean diplomats discussed denuclearization of the Korean peninsula Friday in advance of next week's formal meeting, the State Department said.

Christopher Hill, assistant U. S. secretary of State, and the North Korean delegation Friday "had a useful exchange of views on verification" protocols for dismantling North Korea's nuclear program, department spokesman Robert Wood said.

Hill will meet with other members of the so-called six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearization before formal negotiations begin Monday in Beijing. Members of the six-party talks are the two Koreas, China, Russia, Japan and the United States.

Tokyo  - North Korea should submit written confirmation to allow inspections of its nuclear facilities, the chief negotiators of Japan, the US and South Korea said Wednesday.

Japanese representative Akitaka Saiki, US envoy Christopher Hill and South Korea's Kim Sook said in Tokyo that a written commitment was needed to allow the taking of samples at various sites.

They also insisted that all nuclear sites and related facilities be included, according to the members of the six-party talks that also include China, Russia and North Korea.

Hill expressed his hope for progress in the next round of talks due to start Monday in Beijing, although China had not officially confirmed the meeting yet.

Seoul - North Korea on Monday further restricted border traffic with South Korea, following earlier cuts on traveller numbers as well as suspending the only train connection across the border.

Pyongyang would allow only 880 South Korean personnel to travel to the joint Korean industrial complex in the city of Kaesong just inside the North Korean border, the South Korean Unification Ministry announced Monday.

The cut brings the number of South Koreans at Kaesong to just under one-fifth of its previous level of 4,200.

SEOUL, Nov. 30  -- North Korea accused Japan Saturday of engaging in an "unpardonable politically motivated crackdown" on groups that support it.

The charge was made in a report by the Korean Central News Agency which was monitored in South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported.

This week, Japan arrested a former official with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan or Chongryon, a group that promotes North Korean interests. In October, several offices of the group were raided in an investigation into financial irregularities.