N Korea's dramatic turnaround
Albright clinking glasses with the "Dear Leader"
By diplomatic correspondent Barnaby Mason
The reported willingness of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, to restrain his country's long-range missile programme would be another step in meeting the worries of the United States and other western states.
The American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, said after her unprecedented talks with Mr Kim in Pyongyang that she took his remarks as showing a serious desire to resolve a range of issues relating to missiles.
On the face of it, there has been a dramatic turnaround.
