Washington, Oct. 10 : The United States Government has announced that it is considering removing North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

According to a Fox News report, U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice could announce the decision as early as Friday.

It quoted State Department sources as saying that there is a potential deal under which the U. S. would de-list North Korea.

The deal would require North Korea to agree to verification protocols.

Washington - The United States urged North Korea on Thursday to reverse its decision to ban international inspectors from its main nuclear complex.

"It's a regrettable step but one that is reversible," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

North Korea had earlier told the UN nuclear monitoring body, the International Atomic Energy Agency, that its inspectors were no longer allowed into the Yongbyon facilities.

Vienna  - North Korea has banned inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from all facilities at its nuclear complex in Yongbyon, the agency said Thursday.

According to an IAEA document sent to member states, Pyongyang told inspectors on Thursday that "since it is preparing to restart the facilities, Agency monitoring of the shut down and sealing of these facilities ... is no longer appropriate."

Seoul - North Korea is poised to develop a light-weight nuclear warhead for its missiles, South Korean's military chief told parliament, media in Seoul reported Wednesday.

General Kim Tae Young, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff told a parliamentary committee that it was, however, not clear whether the communist state actually possesses warheads or is only at the beginning of developing them, the national Yonhap news agency said.

North Korea is believed to have produced about 40 kilograms of plutonium, enough to make six or seven nuclear bombs. But again it is not certain if Pyongyang has already used its plutonium stockpile to produce nuclear weapons, Kim was quoted as saying.

Seoul  - North Korea fired two short range missiles into the Yellow Sea as part of routine military training, South Korean media reported Wednesday.

North Korea on Tuesday fired two Styx missiles into the international sea from North Korean waters off the west coast, a government official told KBS radio station.

"It seems that the missiles were fired as part of their routine drill," a defence source told Yonhap news agency. "North Korea declared a no-sail order in the (Yellow Sea) before the missile launch."

Seoul  - North Korea's Kim Jong II appeared in public for the first time since mi