Suspension of enrichment and tests in North Korea

Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Bilateral talks have resulted in North Korea suspending uranium enrichment and a range of military activities in return for some 240,000 tonnes of food aid from the USA. International inspectors will also return to the country.

Kim Jong Un has been leader since mid-December

Returning from their "third exploratory round" of bilateral talks in the Chinese capital, Beijing, American representatives said their North Korean counterparts had agreed to "implement a moratorium on long-range missile launches, nuclear tests and nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment."

North Korea also agreed to "the return of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to verify and monitor the moratorium on uranium enrichment... and confirm the disablement of the 5 MWt reactor and associated facilities."

Officials of both countries will meet again to move forward with the administration and monitoring required for a proposed package of 240,000 tonnes of "nutritional assistance."

The apparent breakthrough comes ten weeks after the death of former leader Kim Jong-il and his succession by his son, Kim Jong-un. The US Department of State said it still has "profound concerns regarding North Korean behaviour across a wide range of areas." However, "Today's announcement reflects important, if limited, progress in addressing some of these."

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News