N.Korea pledges to give up nuclear weapons

BEIJING, Monday (AFP) - North Korea pledged Monday to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for promises of aid and security, the first major breakthrough in more than two years of deadlock over the high-stakes crisis.

The agreement also said the United States would respect the North's sovereignty and not attack, a fear that Pyongyang repeatedly said was a main reason for insisting on developing an atomic bomb programme.

The statement capped a week of tough negotiations in Beijing involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, which have held four rounds of talks since August 2003 aimed at persuading the North to disarm.

"This is the most important result since the six-party talks started more than two years ago," said chief Chinese envoy Wu Dawei as all six envoys rose and clapped.

According to the joint agreement, the North would renounce all nuclear weapons and programmes, return to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty and allow UN weapons inspectors back into the country.

In return, the other nations agreed to "recognise" the North's demand for nuclear energy and said Pyongyang's request to have a light-water nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes would be revisited "at an appropriate time."

Agreement to move forward and meet again in November avoided the immediate possibilty of Washington taking the issue to the UN Security Council to press for sanctions, a move opposed by China, the North's main backer.

It said the goals would be achieved "at an early date" and that progress depended on "commitment for commitment, action for action." Another round of talks was set for November.

In what appeared to be a concession, Washington agreed in the statement to gradually normalise relations with the reclusive regime headed by Kim Jong Il.

In the statement, the other five nations expressed their readiness to provide energy assistance to North Korea, and South Korea reaffirmed it was ready to provide North Korea with two million kilowatts of electric power.