Team invited to North Korean sites

10 September 2007

[New York Times, 7 September] Following its recent agreement to declare and disable its nuclear programs, North Korea has invited a delegation of nuclear experts from Russia, China and the USA to travel to the country to inspect the nuclear sites to be shut down. The announcement, made by the USA's chief negotiator, assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill, came during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Sydney, Australia. Hill said that North Korea had proposed several methods of disabling its plants and that the international delegation would spend four days examining the "scope and the technical feasibility" of those plans. During a photo opportunity at the Apec meeting, South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, publicly pressed US President George Bush to declare a formal end to the Korean War, a peace treaty for which has never been signed. Roh is set to travel to Pyongyang in October to meet the North Korean leader. However, Bush, who has said he will not officially end hostilities until North Korea has completely scrapped its nuclear program, said: "I said it's up to Kim Jong-il as to whether or not we're able to sign a peace treaty to end the Korean War. He's got to get rid of his weapons in a verifiable fashion. And we're making progress towards that goal. It's up to him." Roh then pressed Bush again, saying: "If you could be a little bit clearer in your message." Bush responded by saying, "I can't make it any more clear."

Further information

WNA's Iran, North Korea & Iraq - Implications for Safeguards information paper

WNN: North Korea to declare and disable nuclear programs
WNN: North Korea's Yongbyon reactor shut down
WNN: UN inspectors visit North Korea

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