North Korea announced Tuesday it has produced more plutonium for its atomic weapons programme, putting further pressure on the United States to start direct talks.

A top U.S. diplomat said the Obama administration is willing to engage North Korea directly to restart stalled nuclear disarmament talks, while the communist state warned South Korea not to interfere.

North Korea has sent a provocative shot to America and the West by firing a series of scud-like missile on July 4th - American independence day.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is traveling to the United States for talks with President Obama, as tensions on the Korean Peninsula reached a new high today.

North Korea appears to be preparing to test an advanced missile designed to reach the United States, a U.S. official said Monday, ratcheting up tensions after its second underground nuclear test.