1.   Hall visited North Korea, a holdout Stalinist nation struck in successive years by floods and droughts, for three days last week.

2.   Ratification would allow Washington to participate in a review conference next year that will develop diplomatic strategies for bringing holdout nations into the treaty.

3.   Annan and Chretien said they were pleased that the major holdout nations had sent observer teams.

4.   Backers of the ban say their campaign has had an effect even on the holdout nations.