A satellite image of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex shows the reactor's cooling tower (circled), which is due to be demolished tomorrow in front of international observers. Photograph: ReutersFrom The Times Online:
The Bush administration is to stop classifying North Korea as an enemy and a state sponsor of terrorism, a step that will allow one of the world’s most isolated and repressive regimes to trade with a US government which formerly denounced it as part of the “axis of evil”.
The historic step was announced today in Beijing, as North Korea presented a long-delayed statement on the state of its nuclear programmes.
The US move, which would mark the most significant thaw in relations between Washington and Pyongyang since the 1950-53 Korean War, is intended to reward and encourage North Korean co-operation and accelerate the tangled negotiations on the country’s nuclear disarmament.
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More News On North Korea From Other News Sources:
Text of Bush remarks on North Korea -- Breitbart
Bush Lifts Sanctions, Pledges To Scrutinize North Korea -- New York Sun
Bush says he will lift sanctions against N. Korea -- Yahoo News
Bush Will Lift N Korea Sanctions -- Time Magazine
N Korea Submits Nuclear List to China -- Time magazine
Bush welcomes N. Korea move on nuclear program -- CNN
N Korea hands over nuclear data -- BBC News
Why N Korea has handed its data over -- BBC News
North Korea expected to turn over nuclear inventory -- LA Times
Pyongyang Submits Nuclear Declaration -- Wall Street Journal
US to take North Korea off rogue states list and lift sanctions -- The Guardian
Opinion: Diplomacy Is Working on North Korea By Condoleeza Rice, Wall Street Journal
My Comment: I am very skeptical on North Korea. If they are willingly to do all of this, it means that the leaders in North Korea are insecure with their position in the country. This tells me that suffering, hunger, and the fight for survival is starting to touch the families of these rulers. If they were secure .... they would never be doing what they are now doing.
The question is ..... will they keep their word and abide by agreements when things get better for them.