China proposes nuclear talks in early Feb - report

TOKYO (Reuters) - China has proposed that stalled six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programmes be resumed early next month, a proposal that the United States also favours, Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday. 

The United States and South Korea have been urging North Korea to return promptly to the talks, last held in November, but Pyongyang is angry about a U.S. crackdown on companies Washington suspects help North Korea with counterfeiting, money laundering and drug smuggling.