This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-pacific-17208755

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
North Korea agrees to 'nuclear moratorium' North Korea agrees to nuclear moratorium
(40 minutes later)
North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment, as well as nuclear and long-range missile tests, US and North Korean officials say. North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment, as well as nuclear and long-range missile tests, following talks with the US.
The US State Department said the North had also agreed to allow UN inspectors to monitor its reactor in Yongbyon to verify compliance with the measures. The US State Department said Pyongyang had also agreed to allow UN inspectors to monitor its reactor in Yongbyon to verify compliance with the measures.
In return, Washington is set to provide Pyongyang with some 240,000 tonnes of food aid. In return, the US is finalising 240,000 tonnes of food aid for the North.
The move follows talks between US and North Korea in Beijing last week. The move comes two months after Kim Jong-un came to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
'First step'
Correspondents say the move could pave the way for the resumption of six-party disarmament negotiations with Pyongyang, which last broke down in 2009.Correspondents say the move could pave the way for the resumption of six-party disarmament negotiations with Pyongyang, which last broke down in 2009.
"The United States still has profound concerns regarding North Korean behaviour across a wide range of areas, but today's announcement reflects important, if limited, progress in addressing some of these," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. 'First step'
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the move as a "modest first step in the right direction". US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US still had "profound concerns" over North Korea, but welcomed the move as a "first step".
"On the occasion of Kim Jong-Il's death, I said that it is our hope that the new leadership will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by living up to its obligations.
"Today's announcement represents a modest first step in the right direction."
She said the US would however be watching Pyongyang closely, and would be "judging North Korea's new leaders by their actions".She said the US would however be watching Pyongyang closely, and would be "judging North Korea's new leaders by their actions".
North Korea confirmed the move in a statement released simultaneously in Pyongyang. North Korea confirmed the move in a foreign ministry statement released in Pyongyang.
The foreign ministry statement, carried by the KCNA news agency, said the measures were "aimed at building confidence for the improvement of relations" between the two countries, and said talks would continue. The statement, carried by the KCNA news agency, said the measures were "aimed at building confidence for the improvement of relations" between the two countries, and said talks would continue.
Earlier, a senior US military official said the issue of food aid for North Korea was now linked to political progress - contradicting earlier policy.Earlier, a senior US military official said the issue of food aid for North Korea was now linked to political progress - contradicting earlier policy.
The North has suffered persistent food shortages since a famine in the 1990s, and relies on foreign aid to feed its people.The North has suffered persistent food shortages since a famine in the 1990s, and relies on foreign aid to feed its people.
The talks in Beijing were the first since Kim Jong-un succeeded his father, Kim Jong-il, as the head of the communist state in December, 2011. North Korea agreed in 2005 to give up its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and political concessions, as part of a six-nation dialogue process involving the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan.
But progress on the deal was stop-start, and the agreement broke down in 2009.
Contact between the US and North Korea aimed at restarting the talks began in July 2011.
A meeting last week between US and North Korean officials in Beijing was the third round of talks aimed at exploring how to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.