Mick Hartley

A breakthrough is being reported in the six-nation talks being held in Beijing:

North Korea has agreed to give up all nuclear activities and rejoin the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, following a diplomatic breakthrough.

In return the US said it had no intention of attacking the North, which was also promised aid and electricity.

The agreement came during a fourth round of six-nation talks in Beijing, aimed at ending a three-year standoff over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

All six parties signed the statement and agreed to meet again in November.

“This is the most important result since the six-party talks started more than two years ago,” said Wu Dawei, China’s vice foreign minister.

It seems to be a case of the usual brinksmanship by North Korea: just as the US were preparing to withdraw, they come up with a concession.

This historic joint statement came as hope was fading that the six-party talks could ever reach a deal.

Correspondents say the US was on the verge of walking out of the talks and heading home – a fact that may have been the clincher which forced North Korea to back down.

In Monday’s statement, the North “promised to drop all nuclear weapons and current nuclear programmes, and to get back to the Non-Proliferation Treaty as soon as possible”.

This latter detail is crucial, as it will allow United Nations inspectors to return to the North’s nuclear sites.

In return they’re promised energy assistance, as well as “economic co-operation in the fields of energy, trade and investment”. Though quite why any reliance should be placed on North Korean assurances, given their record, isn’t discussed.