North Korea authorizes US delegation to visit nuclear complex: Seoul
AFP, January, 2004
SEOUL (AFP) — North Korea has agreed to allow a US delegation to visit the nuclear complex at the centre of a diplomatic stand-off, South Korea confirmed, raising hopes in Seoul of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute.
The USA Today daily newspaper reported that the visit to Yongbyong, scheduled for January 6-10, had been approved by the administration of US President George W. Bush. It attributed the story to members of the delegation.
"The report is true, but we don't know what the US delegation will do in North Korea," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The first foreigners to visit North Korea's nuclear facilities since UN inspectors were expelled by the communist nation a year ago includes a top nuclear scientist and a China expert from Stanford University.
Two US Senate foreign police aides and a former State Department official who has ...