China, North Korea's most important financial and military backer, also welcomed the announcement and reiterated long-standing calls by Beijing for a resumption of six-party talks.

WSJ: North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Moratorium

The Chinese have reaped a diplomatic bonanza from this new deal, which was negotiated in Beijing under the auspices of the Six-Party Talks.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Nuclear nonsense in North Korea

The agreement, thrashed out at the so-called six-party talks in Beijing, was actually signed September 30, but kept under wraps until now.

CNN: N. Korea to disable nuclear complex

China advocates a negotiated solution on the Korean peninsula through "six-party" talks involving Beijing, Seoul, Pyongyang, Tokyo, Moscow and Washington.

WSJ: U.S.-China Nuclear Silence Leaves a Void