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N Korea 'failing on nuclear deal' N Korea 'to miss atomic deadline'
(about 11 hours later)
The US has said North Korea has failed to provide all the information about its nuclear programme it had promised in return for international aid. Nations involved in North Korea's nuclear disablement programme have expressed disappointment that it looks set to miss a year-end deadline.
A US State Department spokesman said it was unfortunate North Korea had not yet met its commitments and was "slowing down the process of disablement". Pyongyang had agreed to disable its Yongbyon reactor and provide a detailed declaration of all its nuclear activities by 31 December.
Pyongyang agreed in October to declare its nuclear activities and disable the facilities at Yongbyon by 31 December. In return, it is due to recieve fuel aid and diplomatic concessions.
In return, regional powers agreed to supply fuel aid and diplomatic rewards. But neither the declaration nor the disablement are complete, which both the US and Japan say is "unfortunate".
The exchange was the second part of a deal agreed at six-party talks between China, the US, Japan, Russia and North and South Korea in February, when Pyongyang said it would take the first steps towards nuclear disarmament. The deadline was due to bring a close to the second part of the nuclear deal, which was agreed at six-party talks in February.
Deadline The nations involved in the process are China, the US, Japan, Russia and North and South Korea.
As the end of year deadline agreed by North Korea at the six-party talks in October loomed, the US government urged Pyongyang to comply with its obligations to provide a complete declaration of its nuclear activities. International concern
As the end-of-year deadline loomed, the US government urged Pyongyang to comply with its obligations to provide a complete declaration of its nuclear activities.
It is unfortunate that North Korea has not yet met its commitments Tom CaseyUS State Department Q&A: N Korea nuclear dealTimeline: Nuclear stand-offIt is unfortunate that North Korea has not yet met its commitments Tom CaseyUS State Department Q&A: N Korea nuclear dealTimeline: Nuclear stand-off
"It is unfortunate that North Korea has not yet met its commitments by providing a complete and correct declaration of its nuclear programmes and slowing down the process of disablement," state department spokesman Tom Casey said."It is unfortunate that North Korea has not yet met its commitments by providing a complete and correct declaration of its nuclear programmes and slowing down the process of disablement," state department spokesman Tom Casey said.
"We urge North Korea to deliver a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear weapons programs and nuclear weapons and proliferation activities and complete the agreed disablement," he added. Japan's foreign ministry also described the lack of a declaration as "unfortunate", and said the North Koreans should provide one "at the earliest possible date".
The US and South Korea have said they particularly want to know how much plutonium has been produced and to see evidence that there is no secret programme for uranium enrichment for weapons purposes. South Korea's foreign ministry had a similar message for its Northern counterparts, urging them to "faithfully declare all nuclear programmes at an early date, and complete disablement steps without delay".
Earlier this month, US President George W Bush sent a personal letter to the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, urging him to honour its pledge. The disablement process at Yongbyon began in October, and is being overseen by US experts, but analysts say the North is expected to miss the deadline for technical reasons.
The letter was delivered by US chief envoy Christopher Hill, who visited North Korea to assess progress on the disabling of the main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon under the supervision of American experts. Of more concern is the delay in producing a written declaration of the North's nuclear activities - which analysts say is a key indicator of whether the North intends to stick to its promise to become nuclear-free.
After visiting the facility, he said the disablement activities were "going well and on schedule". The US particularly wants to know how much plutonium has been produced by North Korea, and also to see evidence that there is no secret programme for uranium enrichment for weapons purposes.
Yongbyon is believed to have produced the material for a test nuclear weapon detonated in October 2006, proving the country's nuclear capability. Earlier this month, US President George W Bush sent a personal letter to the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, urging him to honour its pledge at the six-party talks.
The letter was delivered by US chief envoy Christopher Hill, who visited North Korea earlier this month to assess progress.
After visiting the facility, Mr Hill said the disablement activities were "going well and on schedule".