Published: October 11, 2008 12:00 am         

U.S. to remove North Korea from terror blacklist

WASHINGTON — The Associated Press learned Friday the Bush administration plans to remove North Korea from a terrorism blacklist today after getting assurances the Stalinist nation has agreed to a plan to inspect its nuclear facilities.

Diplomats briefed on the matter say President Bush signed off on the move on Friday in a bid to salvage a faltering disarmament accord aimed at getting North Korea to abandon atomic weapons. But they say North Korea will be put back on the list if it doesn’t comply with the inspections.

The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the State Department has not yet announced the step. It comes as North Korea moves to restart a disabled nuclear reactor and takes other actions that threaten the agreement.