Reuters
Last updated: 6:48 am
June 28, 2008
Posted: 5:00 am
June 28, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea blasted out of existence the cooling tower at its plutonium-producing reactor yesterday in a symbolic move to show its commitment to an international nuclear deal, a day after submitting an inventory of its nuclear program.
PHOTO GALLERY: North Korea Nuclear Reactor Demolition
Responding to the opening by Pyongyang, the United States moved on Thursday toward taking the North off its list of state sponsors of terrorism and issued a proclamation lifting some sanctions under the Trading with the Enemy Act.
North Korea's actions were in line with a deal with South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States to dismantle its nuclear program in return for an easing of its international isolation.
Video footage showed the approximately 65-foot-high tower at the Yongbyon nuclear plant being brought down with a blast at its base that sent plumes of smoke into the air and left a crater of rubble and twisted steel.
But experts say key questions remain about North Korea's nuclear weapons and proliferation.
Copyright Reuters.
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