South Korea expects North to keep nuclear disarmament promise

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
South Korea's foreign minister said Tuesday he expects North Korea to disable the country's main nuclear facilities soon and declare all its programs by year's end, as promised under a six-nation disarmament deal. Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, speaking at an annual forum for foreign diplomats in the South Korean capital, cited the October 3 accord in which the North announced its disarmament timetable in return for international energy aid and political concessions. "Corresponding measures by the five parties, including economic and energy assistance and improvement in US-DPRK relations will facilitate the process of denuclearization," Song said, referring to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.