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North Korea allows nuclear inspectors to return

13/10/2008

North Korea has allowed United Nations (UN) inspectors to return to monitor its nuclear development, a day after agreeing to continue negotiations with the US over disabling production.

"The (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspectors can access all facilities at Yongbyon again, including the reprocessing plant," a North Korean diplomat is quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying.

Pyongyang barred the nuclear inspectors last week after Washington said that it would not be removing North Korea from its sponsors of terrorism list after disagreements broke out over the steps required for denuclearisation.

On Saturday, the US state department said it had removed Pyongyang from the list after agreements were reached and on Sunday, North Korea said it would allow the inspectors to return.

South Korea announced on Monday that it was considering expanding cross-border projects, suggesting that the terrorism delisting may have a positive effect on inter-Korean ties.