JobDDT
02-13-2007, 07:34 AM
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- North Korea has agreed to a deal to begin to close down its nuclear program in exchange for $300 million in energy and financial aid, a Chinese diplomat said in a statement at the close of six-party talks.
"With the disarmament of North Korea's nuclear facilities as the final goal, North Korea will close and shut down its Yongbyon nuclear complex," said Chinese envoy Wu Dawei. "North Korea will invite inspectors back to North Korea to do the necessary inspections."
As part of the deal, North Korea must make the steps within 60 days and, as a result, will receive 50,000 tons of fuel oil or financial aid of an equal amount.
Once Pyongyang takes additional steps to disable its nuclear program, including taking inventory of its plutonium stockpile, North Korea will qualify for another 950,000 tons of fuel oil of equivalent aid.
Another part of the deal calls for the United States and North Korea to attempt to normalize relations and work toward the removal of Pyongyang from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. These steps must also be made within the next 60 days.
Working groups will meet in March to implement the terms of the agreement and another round of six-party talks have been scheduled.
Not addressed in the agreement is what will happen to any nuclear weapons North Korea may have stockpiled. Reports have suggested that Pyongyang may have as many as a dozen nuclear bombs.
The United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia have been holding talks with North Korean officials since 2002 in an effort to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program.
But the talks stalled, showing no progress for two years before Tuesday's agreement. In the interim, North Korea tested a low-yield nuclear weapon in October.
Ahead of the deal, a senior administration official in Washington told CNN that the White House and State Department were "cautiously optimistic" about the proposal.
"The U.S. believes it's a strong draft," the official said.
In September 2005, North Korea committed to abandoning its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees. Pyongyang walked away from the talks weeks later to protest a U.S. crackdown on banks suspected of helping North Korea with illegal financial activities.
This time, the administration official said: "The Koreans faced five other united members, and they realized they were standing alone."
Diplomacy?! :eek:
In all seriousness, this is fantastic news if it is enacted and followed through upon.
I'm kind of surprised the deal is only for $300 million.
"With the disarmament of North Korea's nuclear facilities as the final goal, North Korea will close and shut down its Yongbyon nuclear complex," said Chinese envoy Wu Dawei. "North Korea will invite inspectors back to North Korea to do the necessary inspections."
As part of the deal, North Korea must make the steps within 60 days and, as a result, will receive 50,000 tons of fuel oil or financial aid of an equal amount.
Once Pyongyang takes additional steps to disable its nuclear program, including taking inventory of its plutonium stockpile, North Korea will qualify for another 950,000 tons of fuel oil of equivalent aid.
Another part of the deal calls for the United States and North Korea to attempt to normalize relations and work toward the removal of Pyongyang from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. These steps must also be made within the next 60 days.
Working groups will meet in March to implement the terms of the agreement and another round of six-party talks have been scheduled.
Not addressed in the agreement is what will happen to any nuclear weapons North Korea may have stockpiled. Reports have suggested that Pyongyang may have as many as a dozen nuclear bombs.
The United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia have been holding talks with North Korean officials since 2002 in an effort to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program.
But the talks stalled, showing no progress for two years before Tuesday's agreement. In the interim, North Korea tested a low-yield nuclear weapon in October.
Ahead of the deal, a senior administration official in Washington told CNN that the White House and State Department were "cautiously optimistic" about the proposal.
"The U.S. believes it's a strong draft," the official said.
In September 2005, North Korea committed to abandoning its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees. Pyongyang walked away from the talks weeks later to protest a U.S. crackdown on banks suspected of helping North Korea with illegal financial activities.
This time, the administration official said: "The Koreans faced five other united members, and they realized they were standing alone."
Diplomacy?! :eek:
In all seriousness, this is fantastic news if it is enacted and followed through upon.
I'm kind of surprised the deal is only for $300 million.