U.S. President George Bush on Wednesday hailed a nuclear deal reached with North Korea.
He said the deal, which requires North Korea to provide details and a complete list of its nuclear program by the end of the year, shows a "common commitment" to shut down the country's nuclear program.
In a release issued on Wednesday, the six nations involved with North Korea disarmament talks also noted that Pyongyang had set a Dec. 31 date for disabling its main nuclear complex.
In February, North Korea agreed to disable its nuclear programs in exchange for fuel or other assistance.
The disabling process will begin within the next two weeks, with the help of the six nations, according to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
He said the U.S. will lead a group to help prepare for the disabling of the reactor, and will fund the cost of the initial steps.
"The disablement of the five megawatt experimental reactor at Yongbyon, the reprocessing plant at Yongbyon and the nuclear fuel rod fabrication facility at Yongbyon will be completed by 31 December 2007," said Wu, who read the statement to reporters but did not take any questions.
Pyongyang is believed to have used the Yongbyon facility to create the nuclear device it detonated a year ago.
The statement also said steps will be taken to enhance trust and communication between the U.S. and Pyongyang.
North and South Korea talks
South Korea's leader rejected an offer to extend talks with his northern neighbour on Wednesday, straining relations at the end of the second-ever summit with North Korea.
Still, the talks between President Roh Moo-hyun and the North's President Kim Jong-il were billed as a success by Seoul.
"The leaders met twice today in the morning and afternoon. We believe there was sufficient and honest dialogue. The president said the result of the talks was satisfactory," presidential spokesman Chon Ho-seon told reporters in Pyongyang.
The reclusive communist leader had invited the South Korean president to stay for an extra day to hold more in-depth, personal talks.
No detailed reasoning was provided for the rejection, but Roh later said he felt there was a wall between the two leaders that made communication difficult.
"(The North) does not completely trust South Korea. To actively proceed with the things we want to do, we need to overcome this wall of mistrust," Roh was cited by a South Korean media pool report as saying.
By example, Roh said the North has expressed dissatisfaction with Seoul over an industrial park being developed and run by the South. It is located in Kaesong, just north of the border.
There were also reports that Kim withdrew the offer when Roh failed to accept it immediately after it was proposed.
Both men smiled and shook hands at the conclusion of the visit.
With files from The Associated Press
