North Korea has demolished the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in a symbolic display of its intention to disarm, South Korean media report.
North Korea has demolished the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in a symbolic display of its intention to disarm, South Korean media report.
It is expected to be some time before images of the demolition are available.
It is expected to be some time before images of the demolition are available.
The move comes a day after the isolated state handed over long-awaited details of its nuclear programme.
The move comes a day after the isolated state handed over long-awaited details of its nuclear programme.
In return, US President George W Bush agreed to scrap some of its sanctions against North Korea, and remove it from a list of states sponsoring terrorism.
In return, the White House agreed to scrap some of its sanctions against North Korea, and remove it from a list of states sponsoring terrorism.
Former US envoy to the UN, John Bolton, said Mr Bush's decision was "shameful".
Pyongyang invited selected international television crews to witness the demolition of the cooling tower.
He suggested the deal was a capitulation to the North's "expert" negotiators and represented the "final collapse" of the Bush administration's foreign policy.
"North Korea has been given an enormous gift of political legitimacy... in exchange for a declaration that we're not in a position to verify," he said.
YONGBYON COOLING TOWER It is 20m (65ft) highIn operation since March 2003A key element of the reactor, although Yongbyon was already in the process of being decommissionedCooling tower is a simple piece of equipment that could easily, though not invisibly, be rebuilt
YONGBYON COOLING TOWER It is 20m (65ft) highIn operation since March 2003A key element of the reactor, although Yongbyon was already in the process of being decommissionedCooling tower is a simple piece of equipment that could easily, though not invisibly, be rebuilt
But others have welcomed the actions of both Pyongyang and Washington, with analysts saying that recent developments appear to have breathed new life into the long-running six-party talks on disarming North Korea.
Analysts say that while the destruction of the tower is not, in itself, a huge step forward, it is still being seen as an important gesture.
The talks have stalled repeatedly since an agreement was reached 16 months ago, in which the North agreed to scrap its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and diplomatic concessions.
The Yongbyon reactor was shut in July last year as part of a six-party agreement reached 16 months ago when the North said it would scrap its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and diplomatic concessions.
Russia has suggested restarting the meetings - which include representatives from North and South Korea, Japan, China, the US and Russia - as early as next week.
Mr Bush emphasised on Thursday that moves to take the country from the US terror list would not begin for 45 days, and only if the North's nuclear declaration was verified.
Televised demolition
But former US envoy to the UN, John Bolton, labelled the decision "shameful" and the "final collapse of Bush's foreign policy".
North Korea invited selected international television crews to witness the demolition of the cooling tower.
Russia has suggested restarting the talks - which also include North and South Korea, Japan, China, the US and Russia - as early as next week.
While analysts say that the destruction of the tower is not, in itself, a huge step forward, it is still being seen as an important symbolic gesture.
Meanwhile, the negotiating team has been poring over Pyongyang's 60-page nuclear activities declaration submitted on Thursday.
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: N Korea agrees to end nuclear activities in return for aidJuly 2007: North Korea closes its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allows IAEA inspectors inDecember 2007: N Korea misses a deadline to hand over a declaration of its nuclear workJune 2008: N Korea hands over nuclear programme details; US cautiously welcomes the move class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7475129.stm">Why N Korea handed data over class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7475631.stm">George Bush statement in full The BBC's correspondent in Seoul, John Sudworth, says it is a spectacular demonstration of the North's intention to give up production of weapons-grade plutonium.
Six months overdue, the account is expected to cover the North's plutonium production activities.
North Korea agreed to put its nuclear facilities beyond use as part of the six-party agreement reached in February 2007.
But analysts says it is unlikely to mention a suspected uranium enrichment programme, or claims it helped Syria build a nuclear facility, all denied by the North.
The handing over of a document detailing the North's nuclear activities was also part of this agreement.
The long-awaited document was handed over to Chinese delegates on Thursday, and chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said on Friday that copies had also been sent to other nations involved in the negotiations.
"We have to study it carefully and we will have to work on the verification," Mr Hill told the French news agency AFP.
The document is six months overdue and is not certain to satisfy the international community.
It is expected to cover the North's plutonium production activities, but analysts believe it will not address other key issues including a suspected uranium enrichment programme - which, like plutonium, could also be used to make nuclear weapons.
Another potential stumbling block is the allegation that the North helped Syria to build a nuclear facility - a claim denied by Pyongyang.
And the possibility that the country has already managed to build a small number of weapons has not even been touched on yet, according to the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus.
US concessions
Removal from the US terror list would pave the way towards lifting many of the most stringent sanctions, and enables Pyongyang to start receiving low-interest loans from the World Bank and other international lending agencies.
George W Bush cautiously welcomes the belated declaration
But Mr Bush emphasised that moves to take the country from the list would not begin for 45 days, and would start only if the North's claims were verified.
"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," he said.
"It will remain one of the most heavily sanctioned nations in the world."
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.
