US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in Washington yesterday the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should declare all of its atomic programs when the disabling of the DPRK's nuclear facilities is making good progress.

"In fact, we have made good progress on the disabling of the Yongbyon facility and its associated facilities," Rice said at a news conference alongside visiting Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier.

"We have made good progress, in terms of beginning the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Rice noted.

"But this is now a crucial step, because if we are to move forward, and if we are to move forward on all of the benefits that would come to North Korea through the successful completion of this second phase, we really must have an accurate declaration," she said.

Under an agreement reached in October at the six party talks, the DPRK agreed to disable its key nuclear facilities at the Yongbyon complex, and to declare all other nuclear programs by the end of the year.

US President George W. Bush wrote early this month to DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il, calling for a fully disclose of DPRK nuclear programs.

Local media quoted unidentified US officials as reporting that the Dec. 31 deadline for a full declaration may slip into early 2008.