N Korea set to make a nuke declaration: S Korea

The group is led by Sung Kim, director of Korean Affairs office at the State Department. It is due to return on Thursday to South Korea after crossing the heavily fortified border.

“North Korea’s nuclear declaration has been long delayed but the US team is conducting the last work in Pyongyang,” the minister said in a speech.

“If work is done as scheduled, I expect six-party talks to be held again within May so that the momentum can be maintained.”

Yu later a Korean television news channel: “We don’t have much time left. I hope that progress will be made as early as possible in order for the six-party talks to maintain momentum.”

Yonhap news agency said the US team would present a detailed list of data and other materials which North Korea needs to present for verification of its plutonium stockpile.

“North Korea is expected to submit a declaration before the end of this month if the US team’s activity goes well,” a government source told the agency.

Under a six-party deal last year the North Korea was to receive energy aid and major diplomatic and security benefits in return for full denuclearisation.

But the talks have been stalled for months by a dispute over the North’s declaration of all nuclear activities, which it promised to deliver by the end of 2007.