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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 11:44 a.m. ET: WASHINGTON -- North Korea agreed on Wednesday to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches and to allow nuclear inspectors to visit its Yongbyon nuclear complex to verify the moratorium has been enforced.
The announcement, made simultaneously by the U.S. State Department and North Korea's official news agency, paves the way for the possible resumption of six-party disarmament negotiations with Pyongyang and follows talks between U.S. and North Korean diplomats in Beijing last week.
It also marks a significant policy shift by North Korea's reclusive leadership following the death in December of veteran leader Kim Jong-il.
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton told a Senate hearing that North Korea's suspension of nuclear activities a "modest first step" but also "a reminder that the world is transforming around us."
N. Korea envoy: 'Positive' signs from talks with US
The U.S. still had reservations about North Korea, the State Department said in a statement.
"The United States still has profound concerns regarding North Korean behavior across a wide range of areas, but today’s announcement reflects important, if limited, progress in addressing some of these," it read.
It said Washington reaffirmed that it did not have hostile intentions toward North Korea and was prepared to take steps to improve bilateral ties and increase people-to-people exchanges.
An unidentified spokesman from North Korea's Foreign Ministry said in its statement carried by the state-run news agency that the North agreed to the nuclear moratoriums and the allowance of U.N. inspectors "with a view to maintaining positive atmosphere" for the U.S.-North Korea talks.
'Nutritional assistance'
Clinton also said the U.S. will meet with North Korea to finalize details for a proposed package of 240,000 metric tons of food aid, referring to it as "nutritional assistance." She said intensive monitoring of the aid would be required.
North Korea appealed for food aid a year ago to alleviate chronic shortages.
PhotoBlog: Kim Jong Un: A dictator in the grip of his people?
The surprise announcement was a step forward for Washington's campaign to rein in renegade nuclear programs around the world and comes as the Obama administration steps up pressure on Iran over its atomic ambitions, which western governments fear are aimed at producing nuclear weapons.
Since 2006 North Korea has tested missiles, staged two nuclear tests and unveiled a uranium enrichment program that could give it a second route to manufacture nuclear weapons, in addition to its existing plutonium-based program. At low levels, uranium can be used in power reactors, but at higher levels it can be used in nuclear bombs.
The U.S. still has nearly 30,000 troops based in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, that ended in a armistice rather than a peace treaty.
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Msnbc.com stadd, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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It is a world wide Mexican standoff.
What we need is one world government. The United States of the World. I like the ring to that!
Would be nice if they had a peace treaty. Food shortages doesn't help. An economy, where your only trading partner is China, and eastern Russia. Imports outweight exports.
Peace treaty would be really nice.
How about feeding our needy and hungry first for a change?
N.Korea agrees to nuke moratorium and UN inspections
N.Korea agrees to nuclear moratorium and UN inspections
These do not necessarily mean the same thing.
I say let them starve. We have needs in this country that far outweigh what is going on in N Korea.We can no more afford to buy peace than we can war our way to peace. Let that part of the world deal with it. WE NEED TO MIND OUR OWN BISINESS.
It is amazing what a tossed salad can get you these days...
Unless NK falls, NK is never going to give up it's nukes. Nor, is it going to give up its IRBM'. Having these systems makes the world have to treat them differently. Anyone that thinks these talks are going to result in NK getting rid of it's nukes needs to look at the actions of NK over the last 59 years. Better yet, looking at history again, name one country that has had the nuke that has did away with them. The answer is none!
So what are this meeting about? (1) Un needs to prove he is and can be a strong NK leader. If Un does not, he knows the NK military may step in. (2) Ever since NK got the nuke, they have been blackmailing the world. Just last September, Barack Hussein Obama sent $900,000.00 to help NK with "flooding" (that occurred in May). No one in their right mind aids ones enemies. SK has also been sending 100's of millions to help NK because they know they cannot beat them militarily. Even William Jefferson Clinton, as a direct result of NK getting Nukes, agreed to provide aid as well as help build power plants in NK. Bush stopped this when he first came into office but later resumed it on a smaller scale.
Bottom line here ... Once again Barack Hussein Obama is made to look like a fool! Iran has been doing it to BHO for years now.
talk is cheap. waiting on news of it actually happening
This agreement should have ZERO impact on the Iran nuclear issue, since North Korea already has their military nukes. So, NK is not giving up it's nukes, just scaling back it's testing and further development of it's arsenal. Apples and oranges, so call off the dogs of war, there will be no war on Iran, that is not in anyones best interest.
Sometimes the best nuclear deterrence is not having nukes.
Not long ago, the bullies of the vine were calling this boy all kinds of vile names. They were doing this without knowing him, or what kind of leader he was going to make.
It's easy to take pot shots at someone, while hiding behind a computer.
I will continue to say, I'll hold my judgement of the boy, until I see how he is going to act.
They want food, huh ? Ok, send them chitlins, hominy, zucchini, chicken McNuggets, deep fried Snicker bars, and all the other American @!$%# food. We'll send the good stuff after verifiable compliance
I wonder if they have hungry babies?
I wonder if mothers are crying because they can't feed their kids.
I wonder if those that are saying "let them starve" have a heart?
the butter ball kim jong un just like his dead father kim jong s h it / why do we need to talk to these animals
when they got what they want and they say hello stupid u s a
yeah...smart move N. Korea, dumb move USA. more welfare - more welfare - more welfare
to discuss this to the point of ridiculousness is a waste of time..........................even if you are not a person of faith...............what would it hurt to pray?