US says approves North Korean nuclear deal

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) The United States has approved a tentative deal reached in six-party talks that would disable facilities at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex by the end of the year, the State Department said today.

''We have conveyed to the Chinese government our approval for the draft statement,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a news briefing.

Under the agreement, North Korea would disable facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex and declare its nuclear programs by the end of the year, McCormack said.

The other four countries involved in the negotiations -- China, Japan, South Korea and Russia -- would offer unspecified assistance to the isolated Communist country, McCormack said.

He declined to describe the agreement in further detail.

REUTERS RS RAI2311