US envoy arrives in Singapore for disarmament talks with North Korea

Ironing out how to verify North Korea's promised nuclear disarmament will dominate talks Thursday between the United States and North Korea, the top US envoy to international talks on the North's nuclear program said. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill arrived in Singapore early Thursday to lay the ground work with North Korean officials for formal talks next week in Beijing on a disarmament-for-aid pact Pyongyang has agreed to. Hill said his meetings later Thursday with North Korean officials will focus on establishing a clear protocol for verifying disarmament.