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N Korea 'hands over nuclear data' N Korea hands over nuclear data
(30 minutes later)
North Korea has handed over a long-awaited account of its nuclear programme to China, South Korea's foreign minister has 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 caution it is not expected to mention the North's alleged and separate uranium enrichment programme. But analysts say it is not expected to mention its alleged and separate uranium enrichment programme or any details of its nuclear arsenal.
The handover is part of international efforts offering Pyongyang diplomatic and economic incentives to disarm.The handover is part of international efforts offering Pyongyang diplomatic and economic incentives to disarm.
The US has agreed that if the North Korean declaration is complete, it will take measures to remove the country from its list of states sponsoring terrorism.The US has agreed that if the North Korean declaration is complete, it will take measures to remove the country from its list of states sponsoring terrorism.
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 workNORTH 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
News of the handover came in a one-line despatch from the South Korean news agency Yonhap, quoting Seoul's foreign minister Yu Myung-hwan. News of the handover came from the Chinese and South Korean foreign ministries.
Earlier, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said North Korea was poised to "submit its nuclear declaration to the chair of the six-party talks and the United States will implement its obligations to remove the designation of [North Korea] as a state sponsor of terrorism".Earlier, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said North Korea was poised to "submit its nuclear declaration to the chair of the six-party talks and the United States will implement its obligations to remove the designation of [North Korea] as a state sponsor of terrorism".
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 on the next stage of the deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task.But reaching agreement on the next stage of the deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task.
Neither is the declaration expected to address the issue of how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has, and what will now happen to them.
Analysts say the most difficult part of the disarmament deal will focus on what happens to any nuclear weapons and weapons-grade material North Korea may have stockpiled.Analysts say the most difficult part of the disarmament deal will focus on what happens to any nuclear weapons and weapons-grade material North Korea may have stockpiled.
The expected handover is dominating a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Japan.The expected handover is dominating a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Japan.
Condoleezza Rice said North Korea should not try to "cheat"Condoleezza Rice said North Korea should not try to "cheat"
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in the Japanese city of Kyoto there was still work to do in verifying Pyongyang had given up the pursuit of atomic weapons.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in the Japanese city of Kyoto there was still work to do in verifying Pyongyang had given up the pursuit of atomic weapons.
But some critics in the US accuse the Bush administration of making concessions to North Korea for little return.But some critics in the US accuse the Bush administration of making concessions to North Korea for little return.
Japan, meanwhile, is concerned that any move to de-list North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism could marginalise its efforts to find out what happened to Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang 20 years ago.Japan, meanwhile, is concerned that any move to de-list North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism could marginalise its efforts to find out what happened to Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang 20 years ago.
The BBC's Charles Scanlon says North Korea's nuclear programme is one of the few cards the impoverished and isolated communist state has to play.The BBC's Charles Scanlon says North Korea's nuclear programme is one of the few cards the impoverished and isolated communist state has to play.
He says Pyongyang has used the menace of its claimed nuclear arsenal to prize concessions from the US as well as from its nervous neighbours.He says Pyongyang has used the menace of its claimed nuclear arsenal to prize concessions from the US as well as from its nervous neighbours.