hankyoreh

The White House on Friday authorized up to US$25 million in energy assistance to North Korea, fulfilling its initial share of aid under a six-nation denuclearization agreement.

President George W. Bush, in a presidential determination, said it is "important to the security interests of the United States" to provide the aid, to be made under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

The assistance is expected to be made mostly in the form of fuel.

The U.S. is a member of the so-called six-party process, aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. South and North Korea, China, Russia and Japan are the other participants.

Under a deal struck on Feb. 13, Pyongyang is required to disable its nuclear programs, and eventually dismantle them. In return, the five other governments would provide political and economic incentives, including a total of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or its equivalent.

South Korea and China have already supplied their shares of energy aid, 50,000 tons each. Russia also announced its intent.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (Yonhap)