INSTANT VIEW: North Korea hands over nuclear account

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea handed over its long-delayed account of its nuclear activities to China on Thursday.

Following is some initial reaction to the news:

JOSEPH BIDEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS

COMMITTEE

"North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs and activities is a step toward the goal of verifiably eliminating the North's nuclear weapons and related facilities, but a lot of tough work lies ahead."

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JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

"What is important are the detailed contents of the declaration itself. The verification process is, of course, very important."

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LEE DONG-BOK, SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT CSIS IN SEOUL AND EXPERT ON

NORTH KOREA'S NEGOTIATING TACTICS

"The six-party process has crossed another milestone without breaking down. But the declaration doesn't mean anything other than one of the milestones has been crossed. This is going to open the way for the resumption to the next round of the six-party talks."

"The declaration is not likely to include nuclear weapons and other key elements of the North Korean nuclear program. We are going to see North Korea use these things as leverage going forward. We are at a new starting point."

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JOHN BOLTON, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, FORMER UNDER

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY