THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: N Korean officials to attend nuclear symposium

Update courtesy from NHK World:

Senior North Korean officials are in Beijing to attend a symposium on Pyongyang's nuclear program.

North Korea sent its top diplomat, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, and Ri Yong Ho, the chief negotiator to the 6-party talks.

The symposium will take place on Wednesday in the wake of reports that North Korea may have restarted a nuclear reactor in Nyongbyon, in violation of UN resolutions.

Analysts say North Korea sent its top diplomat as a sign that it's eager to resume the 6-party talks without pre-conditions.

The United States, Japan and South Korea say they won't be sending their top envoys to the symposium. They say Pyongyang has yet to take concrete action towards denuclearization.
Sep. 16, 2013 - Updated 16:36 UTC