North Korea renews UN access to nuclear site

North Korea has lifted its ban on U.N. nuclear inspectors and is again allowing them access to the plutonium-producing plant it used to set up an atomic test explosion, diplomats said Monday.

The move was a strong indication that the country was making good on its pledge to return to an international deal meant to strip its weapons-enabling nuclear program in exchange for political concessions and energy aid.

Pyongyang announced Sunday it would resume dismantling its atomic program after the United States removed North Korea from its list of states sponsoring terrorism.

North Korea set off a nuclear test blast in 2006, then agreed to dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for the concessions.

But negotiations have foundered and up until late last week, the North had threatened to reactivate the plutonium reprocessing plant at the Yongbyon site, telling International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to remove IAEA seals and banning U.N. inspectors from the sprawling site.