A South Korean soldier patrols a sensitive border area. North Korea authorized a US delegation to visit its nuclear complex next week, a South Korean foreign ministry official confirmed. Photo by AFP
North Korea authorized a US delegation, which includes a top nuclear scientist, to visit its Yongbyon nuclear complex next week, a South Korean foreign ministry official confirmed. The USA Today daily newspaper reported Friday that the visit, scheduled for January 6-10, had been approved by the administration of US President Georg Bush. It attributed the story to members of the delegation. The first foreign visit to North Korea's controversial nuclear facilities since UN inspectors were expelled by the communist nation a year ago also includes a China expert from Stanford University.