N. Korea to halt nuke enrichment, missile tests

North Korea says it is ready to halt missiles tests, disable its nuclear reactors and allow IAEA observers into the country in exchange for a food aid package from the US.

US state department spokesman Victoria Nuland confirmed on Wednesday that North Korea had agreed to meet demands to disable its nuclear reactors at Yongbyon.

The US said the decision to resume food aid is linked to progress in talks on suspension of North Korea’s nuclear program.

This contradicts the official policy of the US, which states that food aid is not linked to Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.  

The US says it will send a 240,000-metric-ton food aid package to North Korea if Pyongyang stops its nuclear tests. The US made the offer last week during talks in Beijing. Once specialists from the International Atomic Energy Agency have inspected uranium enrichment facilities, the deal can be finalized, the US says.

Moscow has praised the efforts of all parties to revive the six party talks.
Russia approves dialogue between any members of the six-party talks, including bilateral as well as any steps taken towards resuming the talks and stabilizing the situation at the Korean peninsula,” a source in  the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Asia expert Aleksandr Zhebin told Russia’s Interfax news agency that North Korea has made a huge concession.
On the 15th of April North Korea will be celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Kim Il-sung. The country’s leadership wants to greet this holiday not only with weapons but also with the US ready to provide food aid.”

Last weeks talks in Beijing, which stretched over two days, did not yield an immediate result. However they were said to be “serious and substantive.”

The US said last week it wanted to hear out the position of North Korea’s new leader on giving up nuclear weapons. The long-term goal was to resume the six-party talks.

In 2009, the IAEA inspectors were asked to leave Yongbyon after six-party talks broke down.

While working on its nuclear program North Korea has been unable to feed its people and has relied on international aid.

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