N. Korea 'to agree to nuke inspections'

Allowing in inspectors was a key condition for the U.S.-led construction of two nuclear power plants

TOKYO, Japan -- Japanese government officials are expecting North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to announce later this month that he will cooperate with international nuclear weapons inspectors, a report has said.

Citing government sources the daily Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said on Thursday the announcement was expected to take place on September 17 when Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi travels to Pyongyang for a landmark summit meeting with the North Korean leader.

Although it will last just nine hours, the visit will be the first ever by a Japanese leader to the secretive communist state.

According to the report, North Korean officials conveyed their willingness to cooperate with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors during preparatory negotiations for the upcoming meeting.

In preparation for inspections the North Koreans would shortly begin to gather data on nuclear facilities, accept visits by nuclear engineering experts and select equipment to be used in the inspections, the paper said.

If North Korea does agree to host IAEA inspections it will be the first time it has done so since 1994 when a deal was signed with the United States under which it agreed to freeze its suspected nuclear weapons program in return for the construction of two advanced light water reactors.

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Although construction of the reactors is well under way, North Korea has refused to accept inspections until key nuclear components arrive on its soil.

For their part Washington and the IAEA have said the parts will not be delivered until North Korea agrees to inspection of its existing nuclear facilities.

Earlier this week Koizumi said he would use his visit to press the North Korean leadership to open the country up and "act as a responsible member" of the world community.

Speaking in New York where he attended the September 11 commemorations, the Japanese leader said he was eager for Japan and North Korea to normalize diplomatic relations after decades of animosity.

Koizumi is due to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush Thursday in New York with the upcoming summit meeting expected to be a key topic of discussion.