In a diplomatic breakthrough, North Korea announced that they will stop all nuclear activities, and will rejoin the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, in return for aid, electricity and diplomatic recognition.
The announcement was made after the fourth round of six-party talks in Beijing, and after two years of negotiations between the United States and four other nations—China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea.
The six nations involved are all in agreement, and will meet again in early November to discuss further action.
"This is the most important result since the six-party talks started more than two years ago," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said according to the Associated Press.
In the joint statement, North Korea concluded that they are "committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs," AP reported.
However, according to Reuters, Korea's commitment comes with the condition of "abandoning" the nuclear weapons program for a civilian nuclear program. Washington opposed both.
Meanwhile, a main concern among Christian organizations, besides nuclear arms, is human rights. They have urged the U.S. to address human rights at these six-party talks, and though the U.S. mentioned the issue, disarmament of nuclear weapons was always the primary focus.
North Korea continues to be blacklisted as a "country of particular concern" according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. They reported that a growing number of North Korean refugees who were arrested, imprisoned, or tortured, was due to their participation in unauthorized religious activities.
