In return, North Korea was to agree to regular nuclear inspections.

The Premiers failed, however, to narrow their differences on the issue of nuclear inspections.

That could slow international efforts to coax Pyongyang toward nuclear inspections.

That still leaves the unresolved question of the nuclear inspections.

Technical support for nuclear inspections has continued to expand.

Then he tried to get North Korea to live up to its broken promises to permit full international nuclear inspection.

This single accomplishment demonstrates both the power and value of intrusive nuclear inspections in Iraq.

"I agree that these steps are not enough and we have to get Iran to agree to nuclear inspections," he added.

North Korea, officials point out, has promised many times before to submit to nuclear inspection, and always raised new obstacles when the moment seemed near.

But it takes persistence to follow through with detailed arrangements for international nuclear inspection.