N. Korea agrees to give up nuclear program

North Korea agreed today to drop its nuclear weapons programs, according to a statement issued by the six nations that have been holding talks in Beijing on the issue. "The DPRK (North Korea) is committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs," the statement said. Participants in the talks are China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and the United States. In exchange, North Korea will receive energy assistance and more economic cooperation.