News from Asia 3/14/2007

Feb. 26, 2007.
HONG KONG, China (AP) -- A U.S. Treasury Department delegation worked Monday to resolve sanctions against a Macau bank accused of helping North Korea launder money -- a key condition in the North's agreement to give up its nuclear weapons program. [Source: CNN. If that link no longer works, try this one.]

March 4, 2007.
SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) -- North Korea is fully prepared to shut down its nuclear facilities and allow inspections, a South Korean official said in New York, where envoys from Pyongyang and Washington are set to begin rare talks on improving ties. [Source: CNN. If this link no longer works, try this one.]

March 8, 2007.
HANOI, Vietnam (Reuters) -- Japan and North Korea cut short talks on Thursday about establishing diplomatic ties after wrangling again over historical differences, officials said. [Source: CNN. If this link does not work, try this one.]

March 11, 2007.
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard is expected to sign a security declaration with his Japanese counterpart during a four-day trip to Tokyo that started Sunday, officials said. [Source: CNN. If that link is no longer available, try this one.]

March 13, 2007.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The U.S. Treasury Department will bar U.S. banks from doing business with a Macau bank holding frozen North Korean assets believed connected to illegal activities, a U.S. official said on Tuesday. [Source: CNN. Also an earlier CNN report. If the first link does not work, try this one.]

March 14, 2007.
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- The chief U.N. nuclear inspector, after a one-day trip to Pyongyang, said Wednesday North Korea was "fully committed" to an agreement that requires it to shutter its main nuclear reactor and let in inspectors as soon as the U.S. drops financial sanctions against it. [Source: CNN. If this link does not work, try this one.]