In line with a February deal reached with Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, and China, North Korea will declare all its nuclear facilities, including those dealing with nuclear weapons production, and stop them in exchange for 950,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil.
"The North's apparent concession removes a major hurdle to completing the denuclearization process before the end of the year, as the other countries in six-nation talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambition long believed the Communist nation would never agree to get rid of its nuclear facilities unless incentives were provided before or simultaneously," Yonhap quoted a South Korean representative as saying.
The negotiator of the six-nation group on economic and energy cooperation said Pyongyang wished to receive the fuel for its thermal generating plants in equal deliveries of 50,000 metric tons a month, and also wanted equipment to modernize the plants.
The group is holding two-day talks at the South Korean village of Panmunjeom, near the border with the North. On Tuesday, North Korea announced it expected to receive consumer goods and investment as international aid in exchange for dismantling its nuclear program, which caused international concern after the country held nuclear tests last October.
In line with the February deal signed by the six nations negotiating the issue, Pyongyang shut down its key nuclear facilities in June and received 50,000 metric tons of heavy oil from South Korea as the first installment of fuel aid.
