The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that the international community is losing patience with the lack of progress in resolving the North Korean nuclear standoff.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters in Seoul Wednesday that six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions have been going on for a while, and that the international community is getting impatient to see North Korea return to the non-proliferation treaty.
Mr. ElBaradei also called on the U.N. Security Council to take action on North Korea, saying its failure to respond could set the "worst precedent of all."
The two Koreas, the United States, Russia, China and Japan have held three rounds of talks in Beijing on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, but little progress has been achieved.
A fourth round was scheduled last month, but North Korea refused to attend, calling the negotiations a waste of time.