So says Associated Press, which says that they're throwing in the towel as far as their nuclear weapons program is concerned. If true, this is a major triumph for US diplomacy and a definite positive step.

Still, let's be sure that we trust but verify on the dismantling after what happened the last time ...

Prediction: If this in fact pans out, people who have previously argued that the North Korean diplomacy was a complete failure will now start arguing that this would have happened anyway regardless of what the US did.

UPDATE: I've gotten some mail to the effect that it's going to take a lot more than reassuring words as far as Kim Jong Il's pledges are concerned. This is why I thought I stressed verification - as part of any agreement. Joe's Dartblog also provides some helpful commentary on the situation.