In what was billed as a diplomatic attempt to retrieve the remains of US soldiers killed in the Korean Conflict, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and candidate for the democratic nomination for president, has brokered a deal to allow arms inspectors in.
Following is the text found on KOAT-TV's website. I will provide further updates as I get them.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's visit to North Korea appears to be yielding unexpected fruit.
Richardson, part of a bipartisan delegation dispatched to North Korea to return remains of U.S. MIAs, appears to have secured a concession from the communist state on its developing nuclear weapons program.
Monday, a North Korean nuclear arms negotiator relayed to Richardson that the country would be willing to allow international U.N. arms inspectors into the country if some $25 million in North Korean money that has been frozen is released.
On Tuesday, U.S. envoy Christopher Hill signaled from Tokyo the U.S. willingness to deal.
"What was positive coming out of Pyongyang (the North Korean capitol) yesterday is the report that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is prepared to take these actions to get the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in there, and take these first steps," said Hill.
The North Koreans also told Richardson that it will be difficult to stop production at the country's main nuclear reactor by Saturday, a pre-negotiated deadline. A State Department spokesman responded that the U.S. "might not object" to extending the deadline.
Richardson, a Democratic candidate of president, is expected to return to New Mexico on Friday.
from KOAT TV in Albuquerque