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N Korea agrees nuclear deadline N Korea agrees nuclear deadline
(39 minutes later)
North Korea has agreed to disable its main nuclear reactor and give complete details of its nuclear programme by 31 December, Chinese officials say.North Korea has agreed to disable its main nuclear reactor and give complete details of its nuclear programme by 31 December, Chinese officials say.
The agreement came after negotiations last week in Beijing involving China, the US, Japan, Russia and the Koreas.The agreement came after negotiations last week in Beijing involving China, the US, Japan, Russia and the Koreas.
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, who chaired the talks, said the US would lead the disablement process. The US hailed the deal, calling it a major step towards the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
Pyongyang tested a nuclear device last year but agreed to end its nuclear programme for aid and other rewards.Pyongyang tested a nuclear device last year but agreed to end its nuclear programme for aid and other rewards.
Mr Wu said that, under the agreement, North Korea committed itself to disabling its experimental nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon site as well as a reprocessing plant and equipment for the production of fuel rods. The deal was announced by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
North Korea would also give a "complete and correct declaration" of its nuclear programmes, he added. He said North Korea had committed itself to disabling its experimental nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon site as well as a reprocessing plant and equipment for the production of fuel rods.
Slow process 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" class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm">Q&A: N Korea stand-off class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm">Timeline: Nuclear crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7025222.stm">Seoul hails Korea summit
Under the agreement, a team of experts led by the US will arrive in North Korea in the coming weeks to begin preparing the reactor complex for disablement by the year's end.
The facilities are believed to have produced the material for the test device detonated a year ago, proving the regime's nuclear capability.
North Korea also agreed to give a "complete and correct declaration" of its nuclear programmes, Mr Wu said.
US President George W Bush welcomed the deal.US President George W Bush welcomed the deal.
Implementation of the agreement would end North Korea's production of plutonium, "a major step towards the goal of achieving the verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," a White House spokesman said. Implementation of the agreement would end North Korea's production of plutonium, "a major step towards the goal of achieving the verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula", a White House spokesman said.
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" class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm">Q&A: N Korea stand-off class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm">Timeline: Nuclear crisis Slow process
The latest round of six-nation talks was aimed at developing a timetable for the latest stage of the denuclearisation process as agreed in February. The latest round of six-nation talks was aimed at developing a timetable for the latest stage of the denuclearisation process agreed in February.
The North agreed in principle in February to halt nuclear work in return for economic and diplomatic benefits. Under the first phase of the deal, Pyongyang shut down the Yongbyon reactor and four other related facilities in July.
But the process has been slow and fraught with difficulties.
A wrangle over North Korean funds frozen in a bank in Macau held up the initial shutting down of Yongbyon.
The issue was finally resolved and under the first phase of the deal Pyongyang shut down the Yongbyon reactor and four other related facilities in July.
It also allowed inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into the country.It also allowed inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into the country.
In return, it received 50,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil from South Korea. In return, it received 100,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil from South Korea.
A further 950,000 tons is dependent on the North completing the second phase - declaring and permanently disabling all its nuclear facilities. A further 900,000 tons is dependent on the North completing the second phase - declaring and permanently disabling all its nuclear facilities.
However, Japan on Wednesday said it would not resume its aid to Pyongyang, citing lack of progress in the dispute over the kidnapping of Japanese nationals by North Korea. But the BBC's Jon Sudworth in Seoul says the final, crucial phase - surrendering the North's existing nuclear stockpile - is not due to be implemented until next year, and many experts believe this step will prove the biggest challenge.
Japan on Wednesday said that despite the latest agreement, it would not resume its aid to Pyongyang, citing lack of progress in the dispute over the kidnapping of Japanese nationals by North Korea.
The announcement came as the leaders of North and South Korea met for a historic summit in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang - only the second such meeting since the end of the Korean war.The announcement came as the leaders of North and South Korea met for a historic summit in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang - only the second such meeting since the end of the Korean war.