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| N Korea hands over nuclear data | N Korea hands over nuclear data |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has handed over a long-awaited account of its nuclear programme to China, diplomats said. | North Korea has handed over a long-awaited account of its nuclear programme to China, diplomats said. |
| The declaration, which is six months overdue, is expected to detail North Korea's plutonium enrichment efforts. | The declaration, which is six months overdue, is expected to detail North Korea's plutonium enrichment efforts. |
| But analysts say it is not expected to mention its alleged and separate uranium enrichment programme or any details of its nuclear arsenal. | But analysts say it is not expected to mention its alleged and separate uranium enrichment programme or any details of its nuclear arsenal. |
| US President George W Bush cautiously welcomed the move but said the US still had "serious concerns" about Pyongyang. | US President George W Bush cautiously welcomed the move but said the US still had "serious concerns" about Pyongyang. |
| He said he was notifying Congress of his intent to take the communist state off a US list of state terrorism sponsors within 45 days - if the declaration is complete. | He said he was notifying Congress of his intent to take the communist state off a US list of state terrorism sponsors within 45 days - if the declaration is complete. |
| 'No illusions' | 'No illusions' |
| "The United States has no illusions about the regime in Pyongyang," Mr Bush told a White House press conference. | "The United States has no illusions about the regime in Pyongyang," Mr Bush told a White House press conference. |
| NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL 2002: N Korea pulls out of previous deal after US accuses it of having secret uranium programmeOctober 2006: North Korea carries out its first test of a nuclear weaponFebruary 2007: North Korea agrees to end nuclear activities in return for aidJuly 2007: North Korea closes its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allows IAEA inspectors inDecember 2007: North Korea misses a deadline to hand over a declaration of its nuclear work Why N Korea handed data over | NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL 2002: N Korea pulls out of previous deal after US accuses it of having secret uranium programmeOctober 2006: North Korea carries out its first test of a nuclear weaponFebruary 2007: North Korea agrees to end nuclear activities in return for aidJuly 2007: North Korea closes its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allows IAEA inspectors inDecember 2007: North Korea misses a deadline to hand over a declaration of its nuclear work Why N Korea handed data over |
| "We remain deeply concerned about North Korea's human rights abuses, uranium enrichment activities, nuclear testing and proliferation, ballistic missile programmes and the threat it continues to pose to South Korea and its neighbours." | "We remain deeply concerned about North Korea's human rights abuses, uranium enrichment activities, nuclear testing and proliferation, ballistic missile programmes and the threat it continues to pose to South Korea and its neighbours." |
| The handover, which was six months overdue, is part of six-party efforts offering North Korea diplomatic and economic incentives to disarm. | |
| South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said it would be "regrettable" if the declaration lacked details of Pyongyang's nuclear stockpile. | South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said it would be "regrettable" if the declaration lacked details of Pyongyang's nuclear stockpile. |
| News of the handover came from the Chinese and South Korean foreign ministries. | News of the handover came from the Chinese and South Korean foreign ministries. |
| In North Korea itself, a senior US diplomat and media have been invited to witness the destruction of a nuclear cooling tower at its Yongbyon reactor on Friday, in an apparent show of commitment to the deal. | In North Korea itself, a senior US diplomat and media have been invited to witness the destruction of a nuclear cooling tower at its Yongbyon reactor on Friday, in an apparent show of commitment to the deal. |
| Since agreeing to end its nuclear activities in February 2007, North Korea has shut down the reactor. | Since agreeing to end its nuclear activities in February 2007, North Korea has shut down the reactor. |
| But reaching agreement with North Korea on the next stage of the disarmament deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task. | But reaching agreement with North Korea on the next stage of the disarmament deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task. |
| Analysts say the most thorny part of the negotiations will focus on what happens to any nuclear bombs and weapons-grade material. | Analysts say the most thorny part of the negotiations will focus on what happens to any nuclear bombs and weapons-grade material. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a G8 meeting in Japan that there was still work to do in verifying Pyongyang had given up the pursuit of atomic weapons. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a G8 meeting in Japan that there was still work to do in verifying Pyongyang had given up the pursuit of atomic weapons. |
| Condoleezza Rice said North Korea should not try to "cheat" | Condoleezza Rice said North Korea should not try to "cheat" |
| Another expected gap in Thursday's declaration is any disclosure on how the North allegedly helped Syria build what the Americans say was a nearly-completed nuclear reactor. | Another expected gap in Thursday's declaration is any disclosure on how the North allegedly helped Syria build what the Americans say was a nearly-completed nuclear reactor. |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Syrian facility - destroyed by Israeli warplanes in September 2007 - was strikingly similar to the Yongbyon reactor. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Syrian facility - destroyed by Israeli warplanes in September 2007 - was strikingly similar to the Yongbyon reactor. |
| He also says that with opinion on Capitol Hill running strongly against Pyongyang, Congress may seek to block any White House move to remove North Korea from its terror blacklist. | He also says that with opinion on Capitol Hill running strongly against Pyongyang, Congress may seek to block any White House move to remove North Korea from its terror blacklist. |
| Japan, meanwile, is concerned de-listing North Korea as a terror sponsor could marginalise its efforts to trace Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang 20 years ago. | Japan, meanwile, is concerned de-listing North Korea as a terror sponsor could marginalise its efforts to trace Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang 20 years ago. |
| What is your reaction to the North Korea handover? Does the move do enough to allay regional fears? Send us your comments using the form below. | What is your reaction to the North Korea handover? Does the move do enough to allay regional fears? Send us your comments using the form below. |