All 139 members of the International Atomic Energy Agency have welcomed North Korea's pledge to abandon its nuclear weapons. The resolution, passed at its yearly meeting praises the outcome of the six-party nuclear talks in Beijing last month involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. It states that the joint accord on North Korea's nuclear dismantlement is the first step toward making the Korean peninsula nuclear free.

The resolution comes after a debate between the United States and China. Washington wanted a resolution that did not interfere with the six-party talks while Beijing wanted to ensure Pyongyang would receive a light-water nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes.

The U.S. said it's against giving any economic incentives before North Korea gives up its nuclear ambitions. China, in the meantime, refrained from co-sponsoring the IAEA dea, saying that it doesn't want the resolution to affect the next round of six-party negotiations.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog called on Pyongyang to comply with the agency's safeguards and cooperate in allowing inspections of its nuclear facilities. The IAEA resolution also states that the agency looks forward to a new round of multilateral disarmament talks to be held in November.

Arirang News