North Korea agrees to suspend nuclear activities
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: March 1, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) -- North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in a breakthrough in negotiations with the United States, which is set to provide food aid in return.
The rare simultaneous announcements Wednesday by the two longtime adversaries could clear the way for resumption of multi-nation disarmament-for-aid talks that the North withdrew from in 2009.
In a key concession, North Korea said it had agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to verify and monitor a moratorium on uranium enrichment activities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex, a program that the North unveiled to visiting U.S. academics in 2010.
Uranium enrichment could give it a second route to manufacture nuclear weapons, in addition to its existing plutonium-based program. At low levels, uranium can be used in power reactors, but at higher levels it can be used in nuclear bombs. The North has conducted two nuclear tests since 2006 and a long-range rocket test, in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
IAEA monitors will also confirm disablement of a nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and associated facilities, the U.S. said.
The North's statement on the agreement was issued by its state-run news agency. It was slightly different, but released at the same time as the U.S. announcement.
