North Korea invites US, China, Russia for nuke survey

Sydney, Sep 7 (Xinhua) North Korea has invited nuclear experts from the United States, China and Russia to survey its nuclear facilities, the chief US nuclear negotiator said here Friday.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the team of experts will go to the country Tuesday for an initial four-day survey tour.

He made the announcement during a briefing on activities of U.S. President George W. Bush, who is here attending the economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

'The overture is another significant step toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,' said the U.S. official.

The experts will engage in discussions on the scope and technical feasibility of disabling the nuclear facilities, Hill said. A full review of the facilities will hopefully be completed by Dec 31, he added.

Under a deal reached in February after years of negotiations, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear programs in exchange for fuel and other aid. The US on its part agreed to open talks on establishing normal diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.

Asked by reporters earlier this month whether the US would remove North Korea from a list of states accused of sponsoring terrorism in reward for its nuclear declaration and disablement, Hill said he did not want to get 'more specific.'

Pyongyang has repeatedly demanded it be removed from the list, which is considered a key element in the relationship between the two countries that have been enemies for 50 years.

(c) Indo-Asian News Service

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