North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket became all but inevitable as Pyongyang informed international agencies it will put a satellite into space sometime between April 4 and 8.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

One of the issues expected to be high on Mr.Wen's agenda is whether North Korea will return to the six-party talks, which are aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs.

VOA: standard.2009.10.05

Lavrov briefed Clinton on his visit to North Korea late last month, which was the first by a major-power diplomat since Pyongyang announced it was quitting Chinese-brokered negotiations on its nuclear program.

VOA: standard.2009.05.07

Mr Ban also called on Russia - a member of the stalled six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme - to help bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.

BBC: Ban Ki-moon urges North Korea to end missile tests

Immediately following the charm-offensive-masquerading-as-a-summit-meeting between the Kims of North and South Korea in Pyongyang last week, the Clinton-Gore Administration announced that it was lifting economic sanctions against the Communist regime.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

The administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush scrapped a nuclear-freeze agreement with North Korea in 2002 over allegations that Pyongyang abrogated the pact by exploring uranium-enrichment activities.

WSJ: Clinton Praises China Stimulus, Has Hope for North Korea Relationship