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Officials here say Pyongyang’s declaration would be followed by the demolition of a cooling tower at its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, in a symbolic display of its determination to end its nuclear ambitions. In return, the United States would begin the process of taking the North off Washington's terrorism and sanctions blacklists, fulfilling a key step to finish the second phase of the denuclearization process.
Upbeat about the progress, South Korean officials said on Monday the six-nation talks aimed at resolving Pyongyang's nuclear weapons drive in a diplomatic manner are likely to resume as early as this weekend to discuss the third and final phase of the disarmament deal reached in February last year.
South Korea's nuclear envoy Kim Sook is now traveling to Beijing for talks with his U.S. and Chinese counterparts to discuss schedules for the next round of the six-party talks and other follow-up measures once the North makes its declaration.
Kim visited Tokyo last week for a trilateral meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts to discuss how to revive the six-party nuclear talks, which also involve Russia.
“Chief nuclear negotiators from the six countries would meet immediately after North Korea submits a nuclear declaration to discuss how to verify the accuracy and completeness of the declaration," Kim told a press briefing before leaving for Beijing.
“North Korea is expected to submit a declaration to China sooner or later," Kim said, stressing the declaration would be "a starting point" for the next steps, which would include removing the North from the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring nations.
Kim also said the North has invited foreign television stations to broadcast live the planned destruction of its cooling tower in Yongbyon, adding the invitation is a clear sign that efforts to advance the denuclearization process are making headway.
Five broadcasters – one from each of the five dialogue partners – have been asked to cover the planned blowing up of the cooling tower. Kim said CNN was chosen as the U.S. broadcaster, while refusing to identify the other four stations.
But sources here said they include MBC-TV from Seoul, Kyodo News from Tokyo, Xinhua News Agency from Beijing and Itar-Tass from Moscow. The sources also said the blowing up of the cooling tower is expected to take place on June 27.
The cash-strapped North has reportedly called for the five nations to shoulder the financial burden for the demolition of the cooling tower.
Once the North has submitted its declaration, U.S. officials said the Bush administration would start the process of dropping the reclusive state from a terrorism blacklist.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last week that President George W. Bush would formally inform Congress of plans to remove the North from the blacklist and stop applying the Trading with the Enemy Act, which restricts trade with the isolated country.
Upon the president's notification to the Congress, it takes 45 days for the delisting to take effect. During the 45 days, Rice said Washington will evaluate North Korea's cooperation in the clarity and the completeness of its nuclear declaration.
In a move apparently aimed at hastening its removal from the U.S. terrorism blacklist, the North publicly declared its commitment to battling terrorism earlier this month, saying it will "firmly maintain its consistent stance of opposing all forms of terrorism" as a U.N. member state.
Amid this series of positive signs, Rice is scheduled to visit Seoul this weekend to discuss the North’s nuclear issue after attending a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Japan. She also plans to visit China before returning home.
Officials have denied speculation that Rice may meet North Korean officials during her Asian visit. But diplomatic sources said Rice is likely to meet her North Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held in Singapore late next month.
"There is a possibility that foreign ministers from the six countries (involved in the nuclear talks) would meet during the ARF session, which would provide crucial momentum for the denuclearization process," the source said.
The six-nation foreign ministers talks were originally planned to take place shortly after the North completed the first phase of the disarmament by shutting down and sealing its plutonium-producing reactor at the country's main nuclear complex in return for energy aid.
But the meeting was aborted as the North failed to finish the second phase of the deal that called for a declaration of all its nuclear programs by the end of last year, delaying the final phase of dismantling of its atomic weapons programs.
