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N Korea nuclear declaration due | N Korea nuclear declaration due |
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Attention is focused on North Korea amid reports the communist country could hand over a long-awaited declaration of its nuclear activities. | Attention is focused on North Korea amid reports the communist country could hand over a long-awaited declaration of its nuclear activities. |
The declaration, which is six months overdue, should contain full details of its nuclear programme and facilities. | The declaration, which is six months overdue, should contain full details of its nuclear programme and facilities. |
The handover is part of six-party talks aimed at disarming North Korea, which tested a nuclear weapon in 2006. | |
China's foreign ministry is expected to make an announcement in the next hour. The US says any data must be verified. | |
If the handover did take place, it would be an important milestone - but not the finish line, analysts say. | |
The declaration is not expected to address the issue of how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has, and what will happen to them. | The declaration is not expected to address the issue of how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has, and what will happen to them. |
A White House spokeswoman said the US was hopeful that the declaration would be produced, but said nothing was definite. | A White House spokeswoman said the US was hopeful that the declaration would be produced, but said nothing was definite. |
"We just don't know if they're actually going to do it," she said. | "We just don't know if they're actually going to do it," she said. |
Long process | Long process |
Reports suggest that North Korea will give the document to officials from China, as the host of the multilateral talks process. | Reports suggest that North Korea will give the document to officials from China, as the host of the multilateral talks process. |
NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL October 2006: North Korea carries out its first test of a nuclear weaponFebruary 2007: North Korea agrees to end nuclear activities in return for aidJuly 2007: North Korea closes its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allows IAEA inspectors inDecember 2007: North Korea misses a deadline to hand over a declaration of its nuclear work | NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL October 2006: North Korea carries out its first test of a nuclear weaponFebruary 2007: North Korea agrees to end nuclear activities in return for aidJuly 2007: North Korea closes its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allows IAEA inspectors inDecember 2007: North Korea misses a deadline to hand over a declaration of its nuclear work |
There is no information as to where or when the hand-over might take place. | There is no information as to where or when the hand-over might take place. |
Pyongyang has also invited several media organisations and a senior US state department official to witness the demolition of a cooling tower at its Yongbyon reactor on Friday, in an apparent show of commitment to the deal. | Pyongyang has also invited several media organisations and a senior US state department official to witness the demolition of a cooling tower at its Yongbyon reactor on Friday, in an apparent show of commitment to the deal. |
North Korea agreed in February 2007 to end its nuclear activities in return for aid and political incentives. | North Korea agreed in February 2007 to end its nuclear activities in return for aid and political incentives. |
It has since closed the Yongbyon reactor, but reaching agreement on the next stage of the deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task. | It has since closed the Yongbyon reactor, but reaching agreement on the next stage of the deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task. |
Thorny issues include whether or not North Korea has a secret programme to enrich uranium for weapons purposes, and whether it has transferred nuclear technology overseas. | Thorny issues include whether or not North Korea has a secret programme to enrich uranium for weapons purposes, and whether it has transferred nuclear technology overseas. |
If the declaration is produced, the US says it will initiate steps to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and lift some sanctions. | If the declaration is produced, the US says it will initiate steps to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and lift some sanctions. |
After that, officials say, the two sides still have to complete the third - and most difficult - part of the disarmament deal. | After that, officials say, the two sides still have to complete the third - and most difficult - part of the disarmament deal. |
They must reach an agreement on what happens to any nuclear weapons and weapons-grade material North Korea may have stockpiled. | They must reach an agreement on what happens to any nuclear weapons and weapons-grade material North Korea may have stockpiled. |
Not everyone is happy about the way events are moving. Critics in the US accuse the Bush administration of making concessions to North Korea for little return. | Not everyone is happy about the way events are moving. Critics in the US accuse the Bush administration of making concessions to North Korea for little return. |
Japan, meanwhile, is concerned that any move to de-list North Korea as a terrorism sponsor could marginalise its efforts to find out what happened to Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang 20 years ago. | Japan, meanwhile, is concerned that any move to de-list North Korea as a terrorism sponsor could marginalise its efforts to find out what happened to Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang 20 years ago. |