U.S.: North Korea halts nukes for food

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- The North Korean government placed a moratorium on missile and nuclear tests as Washington reciprocated with food assistance, a spokeswoman said.

Glyn Davies, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, returned to the United States following talks with North Korean officials in Beijing last week.

Davies had described the talks as "substantive" and South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Pyongyang was willing to talk about its nuclear ambitions.

Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, announced Wednesday that North Korea was ready to let U.N. inspectors into the country to monitor a moratorium on uranium enrichment at its Yongbyon facility.

The government also agreed to a moratorium on long-range missile launches, nuclear tests and other nuclear-related activities.

The United States has offered 264,000 tons of "nutritional assistance" in exchange for the concessions on the nuclear program," U.S. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton said.

North Korean officials expressed concern following the start of military exercises in the region featuring South Korean and U.S. forces. Nuland, in a statement, said the United States doesn't have any hostile intent toward North Korea and is ready to take steps to improve bilateral ties.

"The United States still has profound concerns regarding North Korean behavior across a wide range of areas, but today's announcement reflects important, if limited, progress in addressing some of these," she said.

Washington said it would meet again with North Korean officials to discuss the details of the proposed package of food assistance.