US, South Korea 'sceptical' over North's nuke inspection offer

Washington, Dec 22 (ANI): North Korea's declaration not to retaliate against South Korean military exercises and allow inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities again is seen by many as a "step in the right direction," but US and South Korea are reportedly sceptical over a "string of broken promises."

According to American, Chinese, and South Korean analysts, there are very little hopes that North Korea's offer to let United Nations inspectors check its nuclear facilities would lead to any positive outcome.

The Christian Science Monitor quoted Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico and unofficial US envoy to Pyongyang, as saying that North Korea had taken "a step in the right direction."

He further urged the concerned nations to hold six-party talks to deal with the situation.

However, US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that America is sceptical about the whole thing because Pyongyang has record of breaking earlier promises.

"We've seen a string of broken promises by North Korea going back many, many years. We'll be guided by what North Korea does, not what it says it might do under certain circumstances," he added.

Meanwhile the South Korean government also expressed suspicion over the North's offer.

"It appears to be a trick aimed at justifying Pyongyang's illegal uranium enrichment program," an official on President Lee Myung-bak's staff said. (ANI)