The U.S. says it has dropped North Korea from its terrorism blacklist because the communist country agreed to every nuclear inspection demand made by the Bush administration.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a Saturday morning press conference that the inspection deal was reached after negotiations between North Korean and American officials.
North Korea has agreed to:
- allow atomic experts to take samples and conduct forensic tests at all of its declared and undeclared nuclear facilities
- permit experts to verify claims about transfers of nuclear technology and an alleged uranium program
Removing North Korea from the terrorism blacklist is part of the latest American attempt to salvage a nuclear arms disarmament deal with the communist state before President George Bush leaves office.
North Korea's removal from the list came as the country prepared to restart a disabled nuclear reactor.
The measure was taken after intense debate in Washington and consultations with China, South Korea, Russia and Japan.
In 2002, Bush described North Korea as part of the "Axis of Evil," along with Iran and Iraq. Conservative American politicians are skeptical about the move to take the country off the black list.
"I expect the administration to explain exactly how this new verification agreement advances American interests and those of our allies before I will be able to support any decision to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism," Republican presidential candidate John McCain said.
He added he was "concerned that this latest agreement appears to have been reached between Washington and Pyongyang and only then discussed with our Asian allies in an effort to garner their support."
With files from The Associated Press
