North Korea agrees to nuclear moratorium, IAEA inspections

Reuters ^ | February 29, 2012 | Andrew Quinn

[Pinkbell]

(Reuters) - North Korea agreed on Wednesday to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches, and to allow checks by nuclear inspectors, in an apparent policy shift that paves the way for resuming long-stalled disarmament talks.

The surprise breakthrough, announced simultaneously by the U.S. State Department and North Korea's official news agency, makes possible the resumption of six-nation nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang. It followed talks between U.S. and North Korean diplomats in Beijing last week.

While analysts cautioned that Pyongyang has backtracked repeatedly on past deals, the moves by North Korea mark a sharp change in course, at least outwardly, by North Korea's reclusive leadership following the death in December of veteran leader Kim Jong-il.

The State Department said that in return, the United States was ready to go ahead with a proposed 240,000 metric-ton food aid package requested by North Korea and that more aid could be agreed to based on continued need.

Along with halting weapons activities, North Korea said it would allow nuclear inspectors from the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency to visit its Yongbyon nuclear complex to verify the moratorium on uranium enrichment has been enforced.

"The DPRK, upon request by the U.S. and with a view to maintaining positive atmosphere for the DPRK-U.S. high-level talks, agreed to a moratorium on nuclear tests, long-range missile launches, and uranium enrichment activity at Yongbyon and allow the IAEA to monitor the moratorium on uranium enrichment while productive dialogues continue," North Korea's official KCNA news agency said.

North Korea is known formally as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"Today's announcement represents a modest first step in the right direction," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Congressional panel, noting that Washington continued to have profound concerns over a range of North Korean activities.

[Pinkbell]

The libs are calling this a victory for Obama over on the Huffington Post. We've been fooled before. What makes them think North Korea will not pull the football away again? As far as the food aid, unless someone is closely monitoring that, that will likely go straight to the elite and not the starving poor who are forced to eat grass and bark because they literally have nothing.

[ColdOne]

sure they have, they play this game all the time, this time it is played for 0 and his re-election campaign.

[Steely Tom]

They’re out of money or need technical help to move their weapons forward. Probably both.

[Williams]

Possible change in direction by new leadership. More likely, they have been advised by the Chinese to try and help Obama get reelected.

[mkjessup]

This is an old scam that we’ve seen before:

1.) Pyongyang ‘agrees’ to something after months and years of refusals.

2.) The U.S., ever the obedient and compliant sucker, hails the ‘breakthrough’ and agrees to resume payoffs to Pyongyang.

3.) North Korean troops and elites get upgrades to their daily diet, impoverished North Koreans continue to eat grubs and tree bark.

4.) Pyongyang determines it wants more payoffs, breaks ‘agreements’ and exits ‘talks’.

Repeat steps 1 to 4.

[Tenacious 1]

I can’t believe NK waited this long to take advantage of the clown we have in office.

Now that much of their crap has been sold or sent to Iran, we are welcome to come in and see what they have gotten rid of. Just send them some food and resources and they’ll be good stewards of democracy and peace.

[mj1234]

Now this should be from the Onion!

North Korea HAS NEVER HONORED ANY ,ANY,ANY Agreement.

Hey maybe they need more tunneling equipment for their
invasion of the south Korea!

Also -they need some more Torpedoes to sink some South
Korean ships-

And- Howitzer shells to replenish the ones they dropped on the South Koreans-

They also need some more INK- to make their U.S. $100 super notes.

And last but not least-— Help perfecting the nuclear yield
on their current Bombs

[Short Bus]

This time for sure!

[RitchieAprile]

their nuclear program is an elaborate scam; they have more
Taco Bells than a-bombs. otherwize why would they offer to
bargain it away?

[smith288]

Possible change in direction by new leadership. More likely, they have been advised by the Chinese to try and help Obama get reelected.

Have a friend who goes to China on biz all the time and he said the Chinese are no fans of Obama. Sad when communist business men think Obama is not friendly enough to them.

[arthurus]

Agreement is not Action. They are two entirely separate things and are not compatible int the case of North Korea.