朝鮮邀請聯合國核監督員返回

The United Nations nuclear watchdog says it has received an invitation to visit North Korea, three years after its inspectors were expelled from the communist country. A spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that the invitation was received Friday -- the same day Pyongyang announced it would soon launch a rocket carrying a satellite. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States favors any IAEA access to North Korea, but that doesn't change its opposition to a satellite launch.

North Korea agreed on February 29 to suspend uranium enrichment, along with its nuclear development and long-range missile tests. It also promised to allow the return of U.N. weapons inspectors. At the same time, the U.S. agreed to send North Korea desperately needed food aid. North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Ri Yong-Ho, said late Monday that Pyongyang considers the deal with the U.S. to be still in effect, saying "the satellite launch is one thing, and the DPRK-US agreement is another."聯合國核監督機構--國際原子能機構星期一說，收到朝鮮請該機構覈查人員訪問朝鮮的邀請。三年前，這個共產黨國家驅逐了該機構的核查人員。總部設在維也納的國際原子能機構發言人星期一說，星期五收到這一邀請。平壤在當天宣佈將發射一枚運載衛星的火箭。美國國務院發言人紐蘭說，美國支持國際原子能機構爲進入朝鮮所作的一切努力，但這並沒有改變反對平壤發射衛星的立場。

朝鮮于2月29號同意暫停鈾濃縮活動，同時暫停核研發和遠程導彈測試。朝鮮還保證將允許聯合國武器檢查人員回到朝鮮。與此同時，美國同意向朝鮮運送其迫切需要的糧食援助。朝鮮首席核談判代表李英浩星期一晚間說，朝鮮認爲，朝鮮與美國的協議仍然有效。他說，“衛星發射是一回事，朝美協議是另外一回事。”