Ukraine hails DPRK's commitment to abandon nuclear weapons programs

Ukraine applauded Tuesday a decision by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its nuclear weapons programs and return to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Acknowledging the DPRK's right to peacefully use nuclear energy and promising aid to the country in energy development were important parts of the joint statement signed Monday at the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Ukrianian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It said progress was finally made after two years of talks as basic principles were worked out for settling the disputes in the region. Ukraine will always support the international efforts to peacefully settle the peninsula's nuclear issue, the statement added.

The fourth round of the six-party talks ended Monday in Beijing with the adoption of a joint statement, in which the DPRK agreed to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and allow international inspections in exchange for energy aid, economic cooperation and security guarantees.

Source: Xinhua