North Korea agrees to halt nuclear activities for food

WASHINGTON – North Korea has agreed to halt nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and enrichment activities at its Yongbyon nuclear complex in exchange for food aid from the United States, the State Department said Wednesday, CNN informs. The state-run North Korean news agency, KCNA, announced the agreement separately.“Today’s announcement represents a modest first step in the right direction. We, of course, will be watching closely and judging North Korea’s new leaders by their actions,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday before the House Appropriations Committee. In return for the moratorium on nuclear activities at this key site, the United States has agreed to a package of 240,000 metric tons of nutritional assistance to North Korea. According to State Department officials who briefed reporters on condition of not being identified, the nutritional assistance will include corn-soy blend, beans, vegetable oils and ready-to-eat therapeutic food.There will be intensive monitoring to assure that the delivery is made to those in need and not diverted to the military or government elites, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. “The DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) has also agreed to the return of IAEA inspectors to verify and monitor the moratorium on uranium enrichment activities at Yongbyon and confirm the disablement of the 5-MW reactor and associated facilities,” Nuland said. KCNA published comments from a spokesman for North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying the latest deal is part of an effort to improve relations between the two countries. “The U.S. also agreed to take steps to increase people-to-people exchanges, including in the areas of culture, education, and sports,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman said. The White House echoed Clinton’s comments, with press secretary Jay Carney telling reporters that North Korea must demonstrate it is implementing the moratorium on nuclear activities at Yongbyon before further progress can occur. “Commitments are one thing, following up is another,” Carney said.