U.S. envoy confident of NKorean compliance

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. ambassador to South Korea Friday reportedly indicated North Korea may not meet its year-end deadline in its next denuclearization step.

Speaking at a forum in Seoul, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, however, expressed confidence the process requiring North Korea to provide a full account of its nuclear weapons and related programs would be completed, Yonhap news agency reported.

Under a deal with China, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan in denuclearization effort, North Korea was to complete the second step by year-end.

"We may not meet the deadline but we will get there in the end," Vershbow was quoted as saying. "All these things can come together rather quickly if they demonstrate and practice that they are ready to fulfill their obligations."

Vershbow went on to say: "And then in 2008 we can start focusing on completing the final phase of this process. We would certainly like to do that during the remainder of President Bush's term," Yonhap reported.

As part of the denuclearization process, North Korea will get substantial economic aid from the other five countries. The United States may also normalize its relations with North Korea, which is on the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring nations, the report said.