Korea: United States: North Korea announces stop on nuclear activities in exchange for food

Seoul (AsiaNews) - North Korea has agreed to a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests as well as uranium enrichment at its Yongbyon nuclear facility, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland announced. North Korea's KCNA news agency separately confirmed the news.

Yongbyon was the site of North Korea's first nuclear test, which led the international community to suspend economic and humanitarian aid to the Stalinist regime on the brink of disaster and famine.

According to Washington, Pyongyang has agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency into the country to monitor the suspension.

In its news release, KCNA noted that the two sides reached an agreement for the sake of truth and mutual trust.

The agreement was reached in Beijing on 23 and 24 February.

"It is a good start but I fear it could be a ploy to get humanitarian aid," a South Korean source told AsiaNews. "Let us hope that it might be a turning point, but we must proceed with caution."