Clinton: North Korean nuclear deal step in the right direction

North Korea's agreement to cease parts of its nuclear and missile programs and accept the return of nuclear inspectors is a "modest step in the right direction," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. Clinton spoke after meeting in Washington with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, who called the North Korean agreement "a meaningful first step" toward resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, CNN news reported. "I reaffirmed my government’s position that we welcomed the result of the US-Democratic People's Republic of Korea discussions that took place in Beijing last month, and appreciated the close Republic of Korea-US coordination that was intact throughout the dialogue process between Washington and Pyongyang," she said. North Korea has decided last week to suspend its testing of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles, along with uranium enrichment programs, and allow the return of UN nuclear inspectors in exchange for 240,000 metric tons of food aid from the United States. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors will verify and monitor the moratorium on uranium enrichment activities at Yongbyon and confirm the disablement of the 5-MW reactor and associated facilities. "We shared the view that the outcome of the recent Beijing discussions is a meaningful first step towards resolving the North Korea nuclear issue, and underscored that faithful implementation of the necessary measures such as moratorium on Yongbyon nuclear activities and the return of IAEA inspectors is important," she added. The Secretary of State said, however, that the US will be watching North Korea closely and judging the country's leaders by their actions in the coming weeks and months. "Our team just met in Beijing with North Korean officials to discuss the administrative details of this (food aid) program, and we are working to move it forward soon," said Clinton. The United States suspended shipments of food aid to North Korea in 2009 amid tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear program and concerns that the supplies were not reaching those most in need.