Six Way Talks Proof Fruitful--North Korea to Give Up Nuclear Weapons Program

After rounds of talks, often cloaked in frustration and impasses, a joint statement of principles was announced by delegations from both Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

Essentially, North Korea has agreed to give up all its nuclear weapons and programs and rejoin the Non Proliferation Treaty in return for normal diplomatic ties with Washington, energy products, and other assistance from key participants.

The participants in the six-party talks agreed to respect North Korea'?s right to use nuclear energy peacefully and to discuss the provision of light-water reactors at an appropriate time.

How the provisions of the new agreement will be crafted and unfold will be interesting--the Devil being in the details...