THE PROSPECT of an end to the stand-off over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme edged closer yesterday after signs the United States will remove North Korea from its list of terrorism-sponsoring nations.
The move will come at the end of this month as N Korea's status as a state sponsor of terrorism has been a key impediment to getting six-way talks involving North and South Korea, the US, China, Japan and Russia back on track.
Once it is removed from the list, many of the trade sanctions against the state will be lifted.
The talks stalled due to differences between Washington and Pyongyang over verification of data N Korea has provided about its nuclear programmes.
Signs of a deal emerged amid growing tensions in the region. South Korean media has reported that the North deployed more than 10 missiles on its west coast apparently for an imminent test launch, while Pyongyang has halted UN monitoring of its nuclear complex where it makes weapons-grade plutonium.
US negotiator Christopher Hill and his N Korean counterpart Kim Kye Gwan had broadly agreed to implement the verification of the plutonium programme declared by North Korea, while setting aside its uranium enrichment programme and nuclear proliferation activity from the condition of Pyongyang's removal from the list.
As China and South Korea are expected to approve the US plan, the six nations will co-ordinate policies to resume their talks on the denuclearisation of North Korea by the end of October.
Japanese opposition could still prove a stumbling block because Tokyo does not want any deal until an ongoing dispute over Japanese citizens who have been abducted by North Korea is resolved.