October 12, 2008	Sunday	Shawwal 12, 1429

WASHINGTON, Oct 11: North Korea has agreed to all US nuclear inspection demands and the Bush administration has responded by removing the communist country from a terrorism blacklist. The breakthrough is intended to salvage a faltering disarmament accord before President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

“Every single element of verification that we sought going in is part of this package,” State Department Sean McCormack said at a rare Saturday briefing.

North Korea will allow experts to take samples and conduct forensic tests at all of its declared nuclear facilities and undeclared sites. The country will permit experts to verify that it has told the truth about transfers of nuclear technology and an alleged uranium programme.

The move followed days of intense internal debate in Washington and consultations with China, South Korea, Russia and Japan.—AP