SOUTH KOREA: U.S. nuclear envoy says North Korea needs to submit a nuclear list in days

The chief U.S. envoy to North Korea says he expects the secretive state to release a full account of its atomic possessions within days. Meanwhile, North Korea's senior officials is visiting Seoul to check the implementation of the summit agreement and tour industrial facilities. The chief U.S. envoy to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme said on Thursday (November 29) he expects the secretive state to release a full account of its atomic possessions within days. "We look forward to receiving in the next few days, certainly within the next week, a comprehensive list from the North Koreans on all their nuclear programmes, materials and facilities," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told business leaders in Seoul on Thursday. Under a deal the reclusive North struck with regional powers, it must disable its plutonium-producing nuclear complex and provide a complete list of its atomic arms activity by the end of the year in exchange for aid and an end to its status as an international pariah. Hill will travel next week to North Korea for his first look at the isolated state's Soviet-era Yongbyon nuclear complex. The United States expects the North will declare it has produced about 50 kg (110 lb ) of plutonium, which experts say conservatively is enough for six to eight bombs, and answer questions about a secret programme to enrich uranium for weapons. "With respect to uranium enrichment, we do need acknowledgement of what has gone on. We need an explanation of how it went on and we need a disposition of any equipment involved in uranium enrichment," Hill said. Separately, a team of experts in North Korea to oversee the disabling of its atomic facilities said on Thursday they were satisfied with progress. Meanwhile, North Korea's senior official Kim Yang-gon, director of the United Front Department of the North's ruling Workers' Party, arrived in Seoul to check the implementation of the summit agreement and tour industrial facilities. Kim was the only North Korean official who attended the summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang in early October. Kim was the key North Korean official for the summit. National Intelligence Service Chief Kim Man-bok had visited Pyongyang and signed an agreement with North Korean counterpart Kim Yang-gon in early August. Kim is expected to meet South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and other senior officials to check the implementation of the summit agreement and visit industrial facilities to see inter-Korean economic cooperation. A round of six-party talks among North and South Korea, U.S., Japan, Russia and China is expected to take place in Beijing from December 6 to 8, but no official dates have been set. ENDS.

ITN Source | November 30, 2007

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