Former US senator urges moratorium on N Korea missiles

A former US state governor has urged North Korea to suspend its use of ballistic missiles and to "increase its use of the internet", following a visit to Pyongyang.

Bill Richardson was on a private visit with the chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt. Speaking at a media briefing in Beijing on Thursday, he said he was "encouraged" that judicial proceedings against an American citizen being detained in the country would start soon.

Mr Richardson has visited North Korea several times in the past and has helped secure the release of detained US nationals on two occasions. The US government has described the visit as "not particularly helpful".