The negotiators of six-party talks are scheduled to meet again
in Beijing today to discuss issues related to the initial actions
for denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula.
The initial actions, signed at the fifth round of six-party
talks on Feb. 13 this year, was the first step toward a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and was to carry out the Joint
Statement made on Sept. 19, 2005, the first agreement achieved
after the initiation of the six-party talks in Aug. 2003.
All six parties --North Korea, South Korea, China, the United
States, Japan and Russia -- agreed to take the following actions in
parallel in the initial phase:
North Korea will shut down and seal the Yongbyon nuclear
facility, including the reprocessing facility and invite back the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) personnel to conduct
monitoring and verifications.
North Korea will discuss with other parties all its nuclear
programs, including plutonium extracted from used fuel rods.
North Korea and the United States will start bilateral talks to
resolve pending bilateral issues and moving toward full diplomatic
relations. The US side will begin removing the designation of North
Korea as a state-sponsor of terrorism and terminating the Trading
with the Enemy Act concerning North Korea .
The North Korea and Japan will start bilateral talks to
normalize their relations in line with the Pyongyang Declaration,
based on settling unfortunate past and the outstanding issues of
concern.
All parties should provide emergency energy assistance to the
North Korea in the initial phase.
Working groups are to be set up for issues such as a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, normalization of relations among
countries involved, establishment of a peace and security mechanism
in Northeast Asia and economic and energy cooperation among
countries concerned.
North Korea must declare all nuclear programs and disable all
existing nuclear facilities, including graphite-moderated reactors
and its post-treatment plant, and other parties must provide a
total of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid, with
the initial shipment of 50,000 tons.
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2007 )
