N- Korea declares its nuke programme, US welcomes

8220;The United States welcomes the North Korean declaration of its nuclear programmes. Today8217;s development is an important step in the multi-step process laid out in the six party talks,8221; White House press secretary Dana Parino said in a statement.

She said President George W Bush was expected to make a formal announcement on his administration8217;s next steps.

8220;The United States will respond to North Korea8217;s actions by lifting the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act as well as announcing our intent to rescind North Korea8217;s designation as a State Sponsor of Terror in 45 days.8221; 8220;During this period, the United States will carefully assess North Korea8217;s actions particularly with regard to verification8221; she said adding 8220;there is stillwork to be done by North Korea to end its isolation8221;.

North Korea 8220;must dismantle all of its nuclear facilities, give up its separated plutonium, and resolve outstanding questions on its highly enriched uranium and proliferation activities. It must end these activities in a fully verifiable way.8221; President George W Bush had branded North Korea as part of an 8220;axis of evil8221; with Iran and Saddam Hussein8217;s Iraq.