US and China to deal with North Korea via talks: Hu Jintao

Chinese president Hu Jintao said on Tuesday that he and visiting US president Barack Obama had agreed to adhere to dialogue and consultation in seeking a solution to North Korea's nuclear programme.                                           

Hu added that they had also agreed to a similar policy towards dealing with Iran and its nuclear programme.                                           

North Korea's nuclear weapons programme is among the thorniest issues facing Obama as he visits China, which has opposed Pyongyang's nuclear tests but also sought to blunt sanctions the United States and its allies have urged against its communist neighbour, which has held two nuclear tests.                                           

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog is concerned that Iran's belated revelation of a new uranium enrichment site near the holy city of Qom may mean it is hiding further nuclear activity, a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday.