Media reports from Asia say North Korea is expected to submit a
long-awaited declaration of its nuclear activities and stockpiles this
week.
Quoting diplomatic sources who are meeting in Beijing to
discuss Pyongyang's nuclear program, Japan's Kyodo news agency and
South Korea's the Korea Times both say the declaration will be handed
over to Chinese nuclear negotiators Thursday.
The declaration is
a key part of efforts aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons
program. Reports also say the United States has agreed to begin the
process of dropping North Korea from a terrorism blacklist once the
declaration is submitted.
On Sunday, South Korea's chief nuclear
negotiator announced that North Korea was inviting media organizations
from five countries to provide live coverage of the destruction of a
cooling tower at its main nuclear facility.
Kim Sook told
reporters that North Korea invited media organizations from each one of
the country's involved in the six-party talks (United States, China,
Russia, Japan and South Korea) and that it would include U.S. news
channel CNN.
South Korean media say the North will blow up the
cooling tower one day after handing over the declaration. Reports also
say Pyongyang is demanding cash from other countries to cover
demolition costs.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
