North and South Korea resumed high-level reconciliation talks on Tuesday for the first time since the North tested a nuclear bomb in October, paving the way for a resumption of aid to impoverished Pyongyang after it pledged to start dismantling its atomic weapons programme.The meetings came as North Korea showed strong signs of commitment to its February 13 pledge at international arms talks to shut down its main nuclear reactor within 60 days.Pyongyang has already invited the chief UN nuclear inspector to visit to discuss verification of a shutdown of the reactor.On Tuesday, the country’s main nuclear negotiator, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, headed for the United States for talks on following through on the landmark deal. Kim arrived in Beijing on Tuesday on his way to the U.S., the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.South Korea plans to focus this week’s Cabinet-level talks in Pyongyang on winning a firmer North Korean commitment to carry out the nuclear deal and on measures aimed at bringing permanent peace to their divided peninsula.The chief South Korean delegate, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung, praised the deal during an informal meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Senior Cabinet Councilor Kwon Ho Ung. “A good agreement was reached . based on the principle of equality and balance,” Lee told Kwon in Pyongyang, according to pool reports.
