North Korea Still Hopes for Nuclear Deal

[January 04, 2008]  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea said Friday the country still hopes for a smooth implementation of an aid-for-disarmament deal with the United States and other countries, after failing to meet a year-end deadline to declare its nuclear programs.

The statement, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, was the first official North Korean reaction to the missed deadline.

The North's Foreign Ministry claimed that the country drew up a list of its nuclear programs in November, and informed the United States of its contents.

It also claimed that Pyongyang offered explanation to the United States regarding suspicions about its alleged uranium enrichment program and nuclear cooperation with Syria.

North Korea promised in February to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for energy aid and political concessions. In October, it vowed to disable its nuclear facilities and declare its programs by the end of the year in return for the equivalent of 1 million tons of oil from South Korea, the U.S., China and Russia. But the North missed the Dec. 31 deadline.

U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill plans to discuss the stalemate next week during visits to Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.

[Associated Press; By JAE-SOON CHANG]

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