North Korea vows to suspend nuclear tests

Agreement to stop development includes pledge of food and other aid from the United States

WASHINGTON – North Korea agreed to suspend nuclear weapons tests and uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors to monitor activities at its main nuclear complex, the North’s official news agency and the State Department announced Wednesday. The promises could end years of a standoff that has allowed the North’s nuclear program to continue with no international oversight and are part of a deal that included a U.S. pledge to ship food aid to the isolated, impoverished nation.

Although the Obama administration called the steps “important, if limited,” they signalled that the country’s new leader, Kim Jong Un, is willing to at least engage with the United States.

Administration officials have been watching closely to see if he would resort to military provoca- tions to establish his reputation following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, late last year. North Korea also agreed on a moratorium on launchings of long-range missiles, which have in the past raised military tensions in South Korea and Japan.

North Korea has agreed in the past to halt its nuclear program, only to back out, demanding more concessions or accusing the United States of reneging on its obligations.

And the statement f rom the North’s official Korean Central News Agency appeared to give the country’s leaders wiggle room again this time, saying that Pyongyang would carry out the agree- ment “as long as talks proceed fruitfully.”

Still, North Korea’s agreement to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to return to the country appeared to be a significant concession. After years of negotiations, North Korea expelled inspectors and went on to test nuclear devices in 2006 and 2009. U.S. intelligence officials believe the country has enough fuel already for six to eight weapons.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, speaking at a House appropriations hearing, expressed cautious optimism.

“The United States, I will be quick to add, still has profound concerns,” she said.

“But on the occasion of Kim Jong Il’s death, I said that it is our hope that the new leadership will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by living up to its obligations. Today’s announcement represents a modest first step in the right direction.”

She added that the United States will be watching closely and judging North Korea’s new leaders by their actions.

Officially, the Obama administration has refused to link food aid directly to progress in talks, saying it would be decided purely on humanitarian grounds. But U.S. officials said the North Koreans insisted on the aid being part of any agreement, and they relented.