North Korea 'not eager' to restart nuke talks

North Korea is in no rush to resume stalled talks aimed at persuading the country to give up its nuclear weapons arsenal, the U.N. envoy to the country said Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing after a visit to Pyonyang, Lynn Pascoe said he and North Korean officials had "a frank and open discussion back and forth on a variety of issues." But, he said, "They are not eager to return to the six-party talks."

Those meetings, which North Korea cut off last year, also involved China, South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States. When North Korea pulled out in April, the country said it was protesting U.N. condemnation of its nuclear test and missile launches.

North Korean officials did indicate "interest and willingness to have international assistance" and made clear that "they do not like" the U.N. sanctions against them, Pascoe said.

The United States has been engaged in efforts to bring North Korea back to the talks.