31.   The United States and Russia have reached tentative agreement on a Security Council statement outlining conditions for scaling back nuclear inspections in Iraq, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

32.   This week, a U.S. nuclear inspection team took a look at an underground facility outside Pyongyang.

33.   While the IAEA carries out the nuclear inspections, the U.N. Special Commission handles the missiles and chemical and biological agents.

34.   While the Vienna-based IAEA carries out the nuclear inspections, the New York-based U.N. Special Commission handles the missile, chemical and biological inspections.

35.   Gallucci has been closely involved in talks with North Korea in which Washington is thought to have offered economic aid and diplomatic recognition in return for nuclear inspections.

36.   He has called hearings on the agreement reached with North Korea in October to assure nuclear inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

37.   Agenda includes reinforcement of nuclear inspections in North Korea, and nuclear security.

38.   At an IAEA council meeting in March, certain countries -- notably Brazil -- were clearly suspicious of any expansion in the scope of nuclear inspection.

39.   But the North insists it be only required to allow any special nuclear inspections when a significant portion of the project is completed.

40.   Earlier Friday, US and diplomatic sources said the rift with North Korea over the nuclear inspections had deepened over the dispute.