Both presidential candidates responded on Thursday to the news that North Korea disclosed details of its nuclear program. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) called the declaration “a step forward” (AFP), but said the United States should continue to maintain sanctions as “a critical part of our leverage to pressure North Korea to act.” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also called the declaration a “modest step forward” but said the United States must “keep diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to meet all of its obligations under the Six Party agreement, including denuclearization.”

IRAQ: Obama spoke to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Thursday. In a statement, Obama said he and Talabani discussed “the security situation in Iraq, and the political accommodation that is necessary for long-term stability.” They also discussed ongoing negotiations over a Status of Forces Agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement, which, Obama said, “must be subject to congressional approval, and done in the context of planning for a responsible removal of American troops.”