NPR's Ted Clark reports President Clinton met today with North Korea's number two official in yet another sign that tensions between Washington and Pyongyang are easing. The 45-minute session between Mr. Clinton and Cho Myong Rok, Vice Chairman of North Korea's National Defense Commission, is the highest level meeting between the two countries since the Korean war. A U.S. official described the talks as "very positive, direct and warm." Both countries are anxious to improve relations. Washington wants North Korea to roll back its missile program. North Korea is in dire need of economic assistance and wants to be taken off the United States' list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
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