Japan, China and South Korea agreed  to hold six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, and do it within the next month. North Korea has to agree on the exact date, and has shown no enthusiasm for resuming the talks. Meanwhile, in North Korea, the government has allowed more free markets to open throughout the country. Existing markets and businesses can now stay open later at night, after most people have gotten off work and can shop. Starvation and poverty is still widespread in North Korea.