North Korea negotiations are ‘difficult’, says Obama

Former US president Barack Obama said negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear weapons programme were difficult, partly because the country’s isolation minimises possible leverage such as trade and travel sanctions against Pyongyang.

Mr Obama told a packed hall in Tokyo: “North Korea is an example of a country that is so far out of the international norms and so disconnected with the rest of the world.”

He was speaking at an event sponsored by a Japanese not-for-profit group during an Asia-pacific trip that included earlier stops in Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Mr Obama’s work after leaving office has been focused on nurturing young leaders.

He stressed countries working together to pressure North Korea was better than nations working alone.”