The United Nations nuclear watchdog says it has received an invitation to visit North Korea, three years after its inspectors were expelled from the communist country. A spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that the invitation was received Friday -- the same day Pyongyang announced it would soon launch a rocket carrying a satellite. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States favors any IAEA access to North Korea, but that doesn't change its opposition to a satellite launch.
North Korea agreed on February 29 to suspend uranium enrichment, along with its nuclear development and long-range missile tests. It also promised to allow the return of U.N. weapons inspectors. At the same time, the U.S. agreed to send North Korea desperately needed food aid. North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Ri Yong-Ho, said late Monday that Pyongyang considers the deal with the U.S. to be still in effect, saying "the satellite launch is one thing, and the DPRK-US agreement is another."