A senior American official has said that North Korea's leadership is in turmoil over whether to restore relations with the United States.

The US special envoy for North Korea, William Perry, said that a struggle is going on within the North Korean government between those who want to normalise relations with the United States, and those who are afraid that this would undermine the regime.

Mr Perry made the comments while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

North Korea has agreed to send a high-level delegation to America in March to discuss improving relations.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service