North Korea Rejects Request for Nuclear Sampling

Via VOA -

North Korea says it will not allow samples to be taken from its nuclear facilities as part of international efforts to end its nuclear weapons programs.

The remarks provide the first details from Pyongyang about an ongoing effort to establish a verification process for the dismantling of its nuclear program.

A Foreign Ministry statement Wednesday carried by the official Korea Central News Agency revealed the details. The statement said a request for samples would be considered to be the same as a house search and breach of North Korea's sovereignty.

Sample-taking is a key means of nuclear verification.

Agreeing on the verification process has been a persistent challenge for the six nations negotiating North Korea's nuclear disarmament - the United States, North Korea, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan.

Last month, U.S. officials said the six parties would meet soon in China to collectively adopt a U.S.-North Korea agreement on verification.

That has yet to happen.

North Korea has agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for energy aid and other benefits.