Blueprint for verification of North Korean nuclear facilites agreed upon in Beijing talks; US moves to remove North Korea off terror list
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    • The Six-Party talks on the North Korean disablement, which had been stalled since October 2007, resumed in Beijing during the week. The US on its part eased some trade sanctions and began the process of taking Kim Jong-Il's regime off its list of state sponsors of terrorism1. A joint communiqué was issued by China after the talks which noted that the parties agreed on a blueprint for verifying North Korea’s nuclear disarmament as part of a deal under which it would disable its main Yongbyon nuclear weapons complex by the end of October 2008 in exchange for energy and economic aid2.

    International inspectors would be allowed to visit North Korean nuclear facilities, review documents and interview technical personnel also. In addition, the IAEA would be allowed to participate in the verification process. These broad steps however did not define the specifics of the verification process or note the leeway that would be granted to inspectors visiting nuclear sites.

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