WASHINGTON, April 28: The United States said on Monday that North Korea had offered to scrap its nuclear weapons and missile programmes, but for “considerable” diplomatic, political and economic concessions in return.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the offer was made during three-way talks between US, North Korean and Chinese diplomats last week. “The North Koreans acknowledged a number of things that they were doing and, in effect, said that these are now up for further discussion,” he said at a news briefing at the State Department. They did put forward a plan that would deal with their nuclear capability, Powell said.—AFP