Korea off 'axis of evil' list

BEIJING: A solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis seemed imminent after Pyongyang handed over a long-delayed account of its nuclear activities to the members of the six-party talks that include the United States and China.
This development was seen in diplomatic circles as a major victory for Chinese diplomacy as it was Beijing that provided the necessary assurances and guarantees for Pyongyang to agree to the disclosure of its nuclear facilities after North Korean leaders had rejected every move by the US government.
Choe Jin Su, North Korea's ambassador in Beijing met Chinese vice-foreign minister and top negotiator on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue Wu Dawei, and handed over the nuclear declaration listing all its nuclear programmes and facilities.
North Korea had earlier agreed to declare all its programmes and facilities by the end of 2007, but missed the deadline after differences emerged between Pyongyang and Washington over aid.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Wu said he was confident the United States will implement its part of the deal and stop considering North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism besides ending the use of Trading with the Enemy Act to block aid and trade flows to it.
But North Korea's declaration itself is not enough to satisfy the US and other countries, who will verify the information supplied before according their final approval.
"The parties agreed that the declaration will be subject to verification and there is agreement within the Parties on a set of principles to guide the establishment of a verification regime", Wu said reading from a prepared statement. He refused to take any questions.
A Monitoring Mechanism will now be set up by the six parties to ensure implementation of obligations on the involved countries on issues concerning non-proliferation and economic and energy assistance.
The six parties have come a long say since they established a set of goals to be achieved on nuclear non-proliferation way back in September 2005.
"We believe that the developments will be conducive to implementing the second-phase actions in a comprehensive and balanced manner, and the final realization of all the goals in the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement," Wu's statement said.