Following a six-nation pact signed in Beijing on February 13, 2007, North Korea agreed to end its nuclear weapons programme in exchange for aid.
North Korea has to close down its Yongbyon reactor within 60 days of the pact in exchange for 50,000 tonnes of fuel worth around us$300 million from South Korea, China, the us and Russia. Japan too was part of the agreement but refused to provide aid since no progress had yet been made about the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. The Yongbyon nuclear complex includes a 5 mw nuclear reactor and its plutonium reprocessing plant. The country will also allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the site.
The talks, which nearly broke down without reaching a consensus, came months after North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in October 2006.
The us is now in the process of removing trade sanctions against the country. A new round of talks will be held on March 19, 2007.
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