US to investigate N Korea nuclear dossier
Updated
The US says it's preparing to vigorously investigate North Korea's dossier of nuclear programs, which Pyongyang handed over on Thursday.
The US State Department says wants to fully verify the contents of the 60-page dossier, which it says lacks details of North Korea's nuclear weapons and its suspected uranium enrichment program.
While President Bush has responded to the dossier by easing trade sanctions and pledging to remove North Korea from a terrorism blacklist, legislators say they will block that going ahead until Congress is satisfied the dossier is accurate and complete.
Envoys from the six countries involved in talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear program could meet in Beijing as early as Monday to discuss verification arrangements.
In the wake of the promised removal of North Korea from the United States' terrorism blacklist, Japan has said it will strengthen its military defences against Pyongyang.
The Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba says questions still remain over whether North Korea will abandon any attempts to develop nuclear weapons.
