US to wait and see on North Korea nuke deal
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-20 08:46

The Bush administration hailed North Korea's agreement to shut down its nuclear weapons program Monday but warned that the pledge must be followed by action. "Now we've got to verify whether that happens," US President Bush said.

The announcement that North Korea would dismantle existing weapons and stop building new ones, culminating two years of bargaining, contained no deadlines and few details. The United States and four other nations negotiating with North Korea agreed to return to talks in November, when the difficult questions of verification and timetables will be on the table.

"The question is, over time will all parties adhere to the agreement?" Bush said.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill (L) shakes hands with North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Gye Gwan (R) as South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon looks on at the close of talks over North Korea's nuclear crisis held at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China September 19, 2005. [Reuters]

A collapse of the talks, held in Beijing, seemed imminent over the weekend. But a secret meeting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held in New York with Asian diplomats helped pave the way for a compromise, said a senior U.S. official.

The deal announced Monday would require Pyongyang to account for and dismantle weapons it developed in secret, outside international arms control.

International estimates place North Korea's nuclear arsenal at between two and 13 weapons, probably hidden in tunnels to avoid satellite detection.

"The proof, so to speak, will be in the pudding," Rice said in New York, where she is attending the United Nations General Assembly session.

The agreement leaves open the possibility that North Korea may one day have a civilian nuclear power program. The administration has previously said North Korea cannot be trusted with atomic technology, and the current round of international disarmament talks nearly deadlocked over the issue.

Rice denied that the agreement represented an administration turnabout. But Democrats said it was exactly that.

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