US lifts sanctions on North Korea

The United States has announced that it's easing the economic sanctions that it imposed on communist North Korea half-a-century ago.

The move comes just days after an historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea.

The meeting was welcomed by the US as a promising first step, and a BBC correspondent in Washington says that the relaxation of sanctions is consistent with America's policy of encouraging North Korea out of its isolation.

The easing of the American embargo means that direct air routes between North Korea and the United States will be opened up for the first time, and imports and exports of most goods will be allowed.

But trade in military items and technology with potential military uses will remain banned and Washington will continue to oppose loans for North Korea from international financial bodies because of what it regards as the North's support for terrorism.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service