N Korea taken off US terror list

Washington has removed North Korea from its list of countries sponsoring terrorism, US officials have confirmed.

A US State Department official said the deal was reached after North Korea agreed to provide full access to its controversial nuclear programme.

"Every element of verification that we sought has been included in this agreement," the official said.

The US blacklisting has been a major factor leading to deadlock over North Korea's nuclear disarmament.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said North Korea would resume its disablement of nuclear facilities.

This disablement was agreed to in 2007, but the process has recently reversed with North Korea threatening to restart its Yongbyon reactor. More