U.S. says it’s open to nuclear talks with North Korea

After three years of diplomatic deadlock, the Obama administration says it’s open to holding preliminary talks with North Korea to see if there’s a chance of ridding the country of nuclear weapons.

A senior South Korean envoy travelled to Washington and Beijing this past week as nations involved in long-stalled aid-for-disarmament negotiations consider their options.

It remains unclear if a diplomatic overture to North Korea will even get to first base. North Korea appears intent on retaining its nuclear weapons, and a senior US official says the North has yet to show a serious interest in re-engaging on the issue.

President Barack Obama has broken the ice with other long-standing adversaries such as Iran, Cuba and Myanmar. An attempt to negotiate a nuclear freeze by North Korea in 2012 failed.