Abstract:
On 21 October 1994, the US and North Korea signed an accord which specified the actions that both countries would take to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. The accord included four main tasks. First, the US and North Korea agreed to work together to replace North Korea's graphite reactors with LWRs, which will have an approximate total generating capacity of 2,000 MW, by 2005. In order to achieve this, the US will establish an international consortium, which is to provide North Korea with the supplies and financial assistance for the LWR project. The US will endeavor, as the representative of the consortium, to guarantee that the contract with North Korea for the LWR project is completed within six months.

The US and the international consortium will also help compensate North Korea for the energy loss that will occur due to a freeze placed on North Korea's graphite-moderated reactors by arranging for the supply of heavy oil. North Korea will freeze operation of its graphite-moderated reactors when it receives assurance that it will receive LWRs and that arrangements will be made for compensation of the energy loss. It was also agreed that North Korea would dismantle its graphite reactors when the LWR project is completed. Finally, North Korea and the US agreed to collaborate in finding safe storage for the fuel that is to be extracted from the graphite-moderated reactors.

Second, the US and North Korea promised to make efforts to normalize their economic and political relations by reducing investment and trade barriers.

Third, the framework commits the US and North Korea to strive toward establishing a nuclear-free zone that will ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. This includes a US assurance to North Korea that it will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against North Korea, an effort by North Korea to secure a joint North-South declaration that the Korean Peninsula will become denuclearized, and an effort by North Korea to participate in dialogue with South Korea.

Fourth, the US and North Korea said they will collaborate to strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime in the following ways: North Korea will remain a member of the NPT and allow the IAEA to implement North Korea's safeguards agreement under the NPT; the IAEA will recommence its ad hoc and routine inspections of North Korea's active nuclear facilities when the contract for the provision of LWRs to North Korea is completed; and North Korea will fully comply with its IAEA safeguards agreement (INFCIRC-403) after the LWR project has neared completion, but before the principle nuclear components for the reactor are delivered.

Supporting Sources:

[1] Arms Control Today, December 1994, p. 19, "Agreed Framework Between The United States Of America And The Democratic Peoples Republic Of Korea."