N Korea proposes new plan for nuke dismantlement

SEOUL—North Korea proposed a five-stage plan for the gradual elimination of its nuclear weapons drive at last week’s six-nation talks, South Korea’s top official on ties with Pyongyang said.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-Young said the plan showed the North was serious about giving up its nuclear weapons. “North Korea has proposed a five-stage road map on nuclear dismantlement,” Chung told reporters.
Under the plan, North Korea said it would halt any nuclear testing and stop any transfer of nuclear technology while shutting down production of additional nuclear weapons, Chung said. North Korea said it would also allow outside inspections of nuclear facilities and dismantle its nuclear weapons before returning to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and accepting International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
Three days of six-nation talks ended in stalemate in Beijing on Friday. The two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan pledged to push ahead with diplomatic efforts and resume talks soon. At a previous round in September they issued a joint statement of principles in which North Korea promised to scrap its nuclear programs in exchange for energy assistance and other benefits.—Agencies