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 )
