North Korea has agreed to "disable" its facilities at its Yongbyon nuclear complex and "provide a complete and correct declaration of all nuclear programs" by Dec. 31 in the latest round of six-party talks on the North's nuclear programs. The agreement is a step forward toward the country's denuclearization. But it contains ambiguity. The parties must exert greater efforts to solidify the path to denuclearization.
Still, it is hoped the agreement, together with a "declaration for the development of North-South relations and peace and prosperity" issued by South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at their Pyongyang summit, will work toward building a peaceful Korean Peninsula.
Under the agreement, North Korea will disable the 5-megawatt experimental reactor, reprocessing plant and nuclear fuel rod fabrication facility at Yongbyon by Dec. 31. But the agreement does not define "disablement" and fails to identify the methods of disablement. It mentions only the "principles of being acceptable to all parties, scientific, safe, verifiable and consistent with international standards." When the disablement of other facilities will take place is not mentioned.