21.   China reaffirmed its friendly ties with the North Korean army Monday while calling for further talks on the nuclear standoff, the Xinhua news agency reported.

22.   During a news conference, Carter also said he was ready to play a key role again to resolve the nuclear standoff and improve relations between the two Koreas.

23.   Earlier Thursday Peter Tarnoff, the US under secretary of state for political affairs, met with Japanese officials to discuss the nuclear standoff.

24.   Earlier Thursday, Peter Tarnoff, the US under secretary of state for political affairs, arrived in Tokyo to discuss the nuclear standoff with Japanese officials.

25.   The Seoul government last month openly opposed suggestions that Carter travel to Pyongyang as an emissary of the Clinton administration to discuss the nuclear standoff.

26.   The summit is expected to focus on the nuclear standoff and steps toward Korean unification.

27.   Kakizawa was referring to press reports that the United States might drop its demand for the special inspection in order to settle the North Korean nuclear standoff.

28.   Meanwhile Japanese Foreign Minister Koji Kakizawa called Tuesday for closer regional cooperation over the nuclear standoff as he prepared for visits to South Korea and possibly China.

29.   North Korea continued its warnings Wednesday against what it called military provocations by South Korea and the United States as tensions remained high because of the nuclear standoff.

30.   North Korea has resumed issuing tourist visas for Japanese after a year-long ban amid the nuclear standoff, a Tokyo travel agency said Wednesday.