The United States welcomed the nuclear declaration of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and promised steps to take the DPRK off the list of state sponsors of terrorism and ease some trade sanctions.

"The United States welcomes the North Korean declaration of its nuclear programs. Today's development is an important step," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement.

"The United States will respond to North Korea's actions by lifting the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act as well as announcing our intent to rescind North Korea's designation as a State Sponsor of Terror in 45 days," Perino said.

"During this period, the United States will carefully assess North Korea's actions particularly with regard to verification," said Perino, adding that "there is still more work to be done in order for North Korea to end its isolation."

Meanwhile, Perino insisted that the DPRK "must dismantle all of its nuclear facilities, give up its separated plutonium, and resolve outstanding questions on its highly enriched uranium and proliferation activities. It must end these activities in a fully verifiable way."

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the DPRK ambassador to China Choe Jin Su submitted the declaration to Wu Dawei, China's top negotiator on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

Under an agreement reached at the six-party talks in Beijing in October last year, the DPRK agreed to abandon all nuclear weapons and programs and declare all its nuclear programs and facilities by the end of 2007, in exchange for diplomatic and economic incentives.

However, the DPRK missed the deadline despite reported progress in its nuclear disablement and declaration.

The United States has urged the DPRK to fully declare its nuclear programs and activities.