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North Korea 'to end nuclear work' North Korea 'to end nuclear work'
(10 minutes later)
North Korea has agreed to declare and disable all nuclear facilities by the end of this year, the US negotiator at talks with Pyongyang in Geneva said. North Korea has agreed to declare and disable all its nuclear facilities by the end of this year, the US negotiator at talks with Pyongyang in Geneva said.
Christopher Hill said details of the deal would be discussed at six-party talks in China later in September. Christopher Hill said details of the deal would be discussed at six-party talks in China, later in September.
North Korea tested a nuclear device last year, but has since agreed in principle to shut down its programme in return for economic and other aid. North Korea tested a nuclear device last year, but has since agreed a deal to shut down its programme in return for economic and other aid.
It has already shut down its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.It has already shut down its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.
Slow processSlow process
Mr Hill was speaking after meeting North Korea's top nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye-gwan, for two days in Geneva.Mr Hill was speaking after meeting North Korea's top nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye-gwan, for two days in Geneva.
FEBRUARY DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" Q&A: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisisFEBRUARY DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" Q&A: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisis
Mr Hill said the talks were "very good and very substantive".
"One thing that we agreed on is that the [North] will provide a full declaration of all of their nuclear programmes and will disable their nuclear programmes by the end of this year, 2007," he said.
Mr Hill had earlier said there could be no normalisation of US-North Korea ties without a nuclear agreement.
But he said: "To the extent that we can move quickly to de-nuclearisation, we can move quickly to normalisation."
Mr Kim has not yet commented on the talks.Mr Kim has not yet commented on the talks.
The six-party negotiations involve the two Koreas, China, Russia, the US and Japan.The six-party negotiations involve the two Koreas, China, Russia, the US and Japan.
The North agreed in principle to halt nuclear work in return for economic and diplomatic benefits two years ago but the process has been slow and fraught with difficulties.The North agreed in principle to halt nuclear work in return for economic and diplomatic benefits two years ago but the process has been slow and fraught with difficulties.
US envoy Christopher Hill said the talks were "very good"
Problems continued even after a more concrete agreement was reached in February this year.Problems continued even after a more concrete agreement was reached in February this year.
A wrangle over North Korean funds frozen in a bank in Macau held up the closure of Yongbyon. The issue was finally resolved and the reactor shut.
The North then received 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil from South Korea.
A further 950,000 tons is dependent on ending all nuclear programmes.
Observers suggest Washington now seems prepared to remove North Korea from its list of countries backing terrorism, but it has yet to make its conditions clear.Observers suggest Washington now seems prepared to remove North Korea from its list of countries backing terrorism, but it has yet to make its conditions clear.