ISLAMABAD, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan said he hoped to be freed by the new government and blasted his 'illogical' detention, according to a newspaper interview published Wednesday.

SEOUL, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - The chief US negotiator on North Korea urged the communist state Wednesday to come clean soon about its nuclear programmes, saying he was waiting for a move in the next few days.

Christopher Hill said differences over the North's promised nuclear declaration have narrowed but time is pressing.

SEOUL, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - The United States urged North Korea Wednesday to end a stalemate in nuclear negotiations within the next few days -- injecting a note of urgency into the process after a three-month impasse.

Chief negotiator Christopher Hill said differences over the communist state's promised nuclear declaration have narrowed but time is pressing.

SEOUL, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - South Korea Wednesday rejected North Korean demands that it apologise for remarks by its top general, and told Pyongyang to stop raising tensions on the peninsula.

The defence ministry message was Seoul's first official reaction to a series of recent hostile moves and angry rhetoric by Pyongyang.

SEOUL, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - South Korea's defence ministry on Wednesday urged North Korea to halt its verbal attacks on the Seoul government, one day after the communist state called President Lee Myung-Bak a 'traitor.'

It was Seoul's first official reaction to a series of recent hostile moves and rhetoric by Pyongyang.

SEOUL, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - North Korea on Tuesday launched a barrage of insults against South Korea's new president in its first comments since he took office, saying his harder line on relations could have 'catastrophic consequences.'

SEOUL, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - US negotiator Christopher Hill, who arrived Tuesday in South Korea to discuss ways to restart stalled nuclear talks with North Korea, urged the communist state to move 'very quickly' to seal a deal.

SEOUL, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - US negotiator Christopher Hill was to arrive in South Korea later Tuesday to discuss ways to restart stalled nuclear talks with North Korea, amid signs of growing impatience by both sides.

SEOUL, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - North Korea Tuesday launched its first verbal attack on new South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, saying his tougher policy towards the nation could have 'catastrophic consequences.'

The lengthy and vitriolic attack, describing the conservative leader as a US sycophant and a traitor, comes as tensions are rising between the two nations.

SEOUL, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - North Korea Tuesday launched its first verbal attack on South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak since he took office, saying his tougher policy towards Pyongyang would have 'catastrophic consequences.'