Report: N.Korea agrees to halt nukes

SEOUL, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- "North Korea has agreed to halt its nuclear activities in return for economic and energy aid from the United States, a Seoul newspaper said Monday.

During bilateral talks with the United States in Berlin last week, the North also agreed to allow international inspectors back into the country to 'monitor' its nuclear facilities, according to South Korea's largest daily Chosun Ilbo.

In return, the North called for the United States to ease financial sanctions on the communist country, the paper said, citing sources in Seoul and Beijing.

'North Korea's top nuclear envoy Kim Kye Gwan told his U.S. counterpart Christopher Hill that North Korea will yield in return for economic and energy aid from the United States and assurances that the United States will seek to unfreeze North Korea's $24 million in accounts with the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia,' it said."