This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7130528.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Bush 'has sent letter to N Korea' | Bush 'has sent letter to N Korea' |
(30 minutes later) | |
US President George Bush has sent a personal letter to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il, according to the state news agency KCNA. | |
The letter was delivered by US envoy Christopher Hill, KCNA reported. The agency did not give any information about the letter's content. | |
Mr Hill has just visited North Korea to assess progress on the disabling of its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. | |
North Korea has agreed to end its nuclear programme in exchange for aid. | North Korea has agreed to end its nuclear programme in exchange for aid. |
Under the international deal, signed in February, Pyongyang pledged to declare all its nuclear programmes and disable Yongbyon the end of the year. | Under the international deal, signed in February, Pyongyang pledged to declare all its nuclear programmes and disable Yongbyon the end of the year. |
Deal 'at a crossroads' | Deal 'at a crossroads' |
The letter was handed over during Mr Hill's meeting on Tuesday with North Korea's foreign minister Pak Ui-chun, KCNA (the Korean Central News Agency) reported. | |
News of the letter comes a day after Mr Hill and South Korean ministers expressed concern that North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programme might not be completed on time. | News of the letter comes a day after Mr Hill and South Korean ministers expressed concern that North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programme might not be completed on time. |
Mr Hill said this declaration must include details of the country's alleged secret uranium enrichment programme. | Mr Hill said this declaration must include details of the country's alleged secret uranium enrichment programme. |
South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon said on Thursday that the deal was "at a crossroads where it may proceed towards a stable phase or to a rough road". | South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon said on Thursday that the deal was "at a crossroads where it may proceed towards a stable phase or to a rough road". |
The US has said it would consider removing North Korea from a list of countries it says sponsors terrorism if Pyongyang full complies with the deal. | The US has said it would consider removing North Korea from a list of countries it says sponsors terrorism if Pyongyang full complies with the deal. |