US President George W. Bush has authorized 25 million dollars in energy aid to North Korea as part of the agreement for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear activities, DPA quoted the sources of the White House as saying Friday. North Korea agreed in February to give up its nuclear programme in return for energy assistance from the United States and other countries. The announcement came as officials from the six-nation talks - China, Japan, Russia, the United States and two Koreas - met in Beijing to negotiate how to implement the deal. The United States wants to ensure that a nuclear reactor at Yongbyon is permanently disabled and Pyongyang addresses US suspicions that it has a uranium enrichment programme. The United States has also agreed to discuss establishing formal diplomatic relations with North Korea.
