Powell fields complaints on US policy on

On Monday, Powell was told by Chinese officials, the Bush administration should adopt greater flexibility in talks over North Korea’s nuclear programs. On Tuesday, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon said he told Powell the United States and its allies ‘‘must come up with a more creative and realistic proposal’’ to lure North Korea back to the talks ‘‘as soon as possible.’’

A planned September session of the six-nation talks was scrapped after North Korea refused to show up, citing ‘‘hostile policy’’. —LAT-WP