Media reports from Asia say North Korea is expected to submit a long-awaited declaration of its nuclear activities and stockpiles this week.

Quoting diplomatic sources who are meeting in Beijing to discuss Pyongyang's nuclear program, Japan's Kyodo news agency and South Korea's the Korea Times both say the declaration will be handed over to Chinese nuclear negotiators Thursday.

The declaration is a key part of efforts aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program.   Reports also say the United States has agreed to begin the process of dropping North Korea from a terrorism blacklist once the declaration is submitted.

On Sunday, South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator announced that North Korea was inviting media organizations from five countries to provide live coverage of the destruction of a cooling tower at its main nuclear facility.

Kim Sook told reporters that North Korea invited media organizations from each one of the country's involved in the six-party talks (United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea) and that it would include U.S. news channel CNN.  

South Korean media say the North will blow up the cooling tower one day after handing over the declaration. Reports also say Pyongyang is demanding cash from other countries to cover demolition costs.

 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.