Giant step toward peace

The giant step the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) took yesterday is expected to make the Korean Peninsula a nuclear-weapons-free zone. The DPRK's action has to be followed by the United States removing it from its list of "terrorism-sponsoring states".

The DPRK handed over the list of its nuclear program and facilities to China. China was instrumental in starting the Six-Party Talks that also include Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the US. The DPRK was to have handed over the document at the end of last year as part of an agreement at the Six-Party Talks.

The agreement says the Pyongyang has to stop its nuclear program in exchange for energy aid. In return, the US will remove the DPRK from its list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and terminate its Trading with the Enemy Act in 45 days. This means Washington will lift its economic sanctions against Pyongyang that have been in force since 1950.