BEIJING - Countries seeking to push forward a nuclear disarmament pact with North Korea will send a joint team to the North's Yongbyon complex to assess steps to cripple the atomic complex, China announced on Monday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the joint team would travel to Yongbyon from Tuesday "to gain an on-the-ground understanding of the progress of disablement work of the nuclear facilities," the Xinhua news agency reported.
The three-day visit marks another step under a February deal reached at six-party talks between North and South Korea, the United States, host China, Japan and Russia. China did not say who would be on the team.
In exchange for "disabling" a reactor and plutonium production facilities at Yongbyon, the impoverished North will receive 1 million tonnes of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid.
The United States will also move towards taking North Korea off a U.S. terrorism blacklist.
News
New ‘Tyndale Trail’ launched to mark 500 years of English New Testament
A new long-distance walking route tracing the life of Bible translator William Tyndale has been launched in south-west England, as part of commemorations marking 500 years since his groundbreaking English New Testament.
Russia and Ukraine agree to temporary Orthodox Easter truce
In the Orthodox calendar, Easter falls one week after the date celebrated in western Europe.
Bishop urges people of Britain to stand up for Christian truth
It follows an earlier open letter addressed to King Charles, calling upon him to defend Christianity in line with his titles of Supreme Governor of the Church of England and "Defender of the Faith".
Fundraising Regulator reminds churches that collections are subject to code of practice
Churches can breach the code even when acting in good faith.