North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has told Chinese President Hu Jintao's envoy that he is prepared to resume negotiations over his country's nuclear programme. Chinese envoy Dai Bingguo met Mr Kim in the North Korean capital Pyongyang.

The meeting is seen as a sign that relations between the two countries, which for most of the past 61 years have been close allies, are improving. Relations began to cool following North Korea's failed long-range missile launch in April and a nuclear test in May. North Korea pulled out of the so-called six-parties talks in April after the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the launch. Beijing wants North Korea to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

The United States has already said that it is prepared to hold direct talks with Pyongyang. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is expected to visit North Korea next month.

Chinese envoy Dai Bingguo
Photo by EPA/ANP