Does China hold the key to solving the N Korea crisis?
US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Beijing to discuss North Korea situation - but does China have "more capacity to make a difference"?
Damage from N Korea missile launch would last decades
When North Korea is threatening to launch missiles, targets unknown, there's a lot at stake.
Tales of escape paint a picture of life in North Korea
Through her tears, a North Korean woman told me how she had to escape: risk death while running across the border or die of starvation.
Live updates
US military claims helicopter 'hard landing' near N Korea border
The US military claimed one of its helicopters carrying Marines executed a hard landing near the North Korean border "while conducting routine flight operations".
A statement said the US Marine Corp. CH-53E Super Stallion had 21 people on board including five crew members, all of whom were taken to hospital.
Fifteen people have been released from hospital and six are in a stable condition.
"A comprehensive investigation will take place to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident", the statement added.
US chopper crash injured 'taken to Yongsan army base'
by Angus Walker - China CorrespondentThe South Korean media is reporting that the injured from the US military helicopter crash near the North Korean border are being taken to the hospital at Yongsan army base.
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US to comment on reports of helicopter crash near N Korean border
A statement is expected imminently from the US Marines following reports that an American military helicopter crashed near the North Korean border.
French news agency AFP said a CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter was taking part in a joint drill with South Korean allies when the incident occurred but reported no casualties.
The Yonhap news agency said the helicopter came down in Cheorwon province, which borders North Korea.
Obama to discuss security with South Korean President
President Barack Obama will meet with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on May 7 at the White House to discuss economic and security issues, including "countering the North Korean threat," the White House said.
– White House statement.President Obama and President Park will also discuss a broad range of economic and security issues, including continued cooperation on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and countering the North Korean threat.
John Kerry: 'Stakes are too high for territorial disputes'
US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the stakes are too high for any "long festering territorial disputes" between North and South Korea not to be set aside.
Mr Kerry was speaking in Japan earlier:
Kerry: 'N Korea's dangerous nuclear missiles a threat'
The US Secretary of State John Kerry said that North Korea's "dangerous nuclear missile programme" threatens North Korea's neighbours as well as the country's own people.
– The US Secretary of State John KerryThe North's dangerous nuclear missile programme threatens not only North Korea's neighbours, but it threatens its own people.
The world does not need more potential for war. And so we will stand together and we welcome China's strong statement of its commitment two days ago to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
Moving forward together means it is time also to put long festering territorial disputes behind us. The stakes are far too high, and the global economy is far too fragile, for anyone to allow these inherited problems to divide the region; to inflame it.
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US reassures allies ahead of major North Korea rally
US Secretary of State John Kerry vowed today to protect his Asian allies a day before a large-scale military rally was expected to be held in North Korea.
There are fears that tomorrow's celebrations to mark the birthday of the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung, could provide an excuse for another missile test.
ITV News' China Correspondent Angus Walker reports from Seoul:
Kerry: US wants peace but will 'do what's necessary'
The US Secretary of State John Kerry said today that Washington would defend its Asian allies from North Korea if necessary, but stressed that negotiation of a peaceful solution was preferable.
At a joint news conference with Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Kerry said:
"I think it is really unfortunate that there has been so much focus and attention in the media and elsewhere on the subject of war, when what we really ought to be talking about is the possibility of peace. And I think there are those possibilities."
However, Kerry confirmed that the US would "do what was necessary" to defend Japan and South Korea.
His comments came as North Korea branded South's Korea's calls for negotiation last week a "cunning trick" via the country's KCNA news agency.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Japan
US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Japan, the last stop on an Asian tour aimed at reining North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry en route to Japan
US Secretary of State John Kerry was en route to Japan, the last stop on an Asian tour aimed at reining North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Kerry met China's top leaders on Saturday in a bid to persuade them to push reclusive North Korea, whose sole main ally is Beijing, to return to nuclear talks after weeks of threats of nuclear attacks on the United States and South Korea.
Also likely to be high on the agenda in talks in Tokyo are Japan's territorial disputes with China and the future of US bases in Japan.
The US and Japan this month announced an agreement for the return to Japan of a US air base, taking a step to resolving an issue that trouble relations.
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