North Korea declaration expected

Attention is focused on North Korea amid reports the communist country could today hand over a long-awaited declaration of its nuclear activities.

The declaration, which is six months overdue, should contain full details of its nuclear programme and facilities.

The US has emphasised the information in the document must be verified as correct and complete.

The handover is part of a multilateral deal aimed at disarming North Korea, which tested a nuclear weapon in 2006.

If it did take place, it would be an important milestone - but not the finish line, analysts say.

The declaration is not expected to address the issue of how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has, and what will happen to them.

A White House spokeswoman said the US was hopeful that the declaration would be produced, but said nothing was definite.

"We just don't know if they're actually going to do it," she said.