North Korea agrees to nuclear weapons freeze, international inspections

NORTH Korea agreed yesterday to stop building nuclear weapons and allow international inspections in exchange for energy aid, economic co-operation and security assurances, a breakthrough that marked a first step toward disarmament after two years of six-nation talks.

The chief US envoy to the talks praised the development as a “win-win situation” and “good agreement for all of us.” But he promptly urged Pyongyang to make good on its promises by ending operations at its main nuclear facility at Yongbyon.

“What is the purpose of operating it at this point?” said US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. “The time to turn it off would be about now.”