Officials in Washington said they had no immediate comment on the North Korean statement.

Chinese officials made no comment on the North Korean statement today.

The North Korean statement left open a number of crucial questions.

A North Korean statement promised "stern physical actions" against "any provocative act".

As is often the case, the North Korean statement contained words that were both bluntly challenging and mildly conciliatory.

The statement was said to have lacked the usual bitterness of most North Korean statements.

The North Korean statement is expected to lead to moves to ease tensions.

The North Korean statements have come like a last-minute wild card that could have an unpredictable influence the outcome.

The North Korean statement conspicuously left out one important feature of the agreement.

The United States responded that it could not verify the Korean statement, but still took it seriously.