South Korea is cautiously welcoming Pyongyang’s decision to suspend atomic work but warns it is premature to expect an imminent resumption of six-party talks, the collapsed framework aimed at permanently dismantling North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.

Seoul’s caution echoes that of Washington, which has called North Korea’s suspension a “modest first step”. The US fears it could end up “buying the same horse twice” if North Korea eventually accelerates work on atomic weapons and ballistics, as it did after failed denuclearisation deals with presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Pyongyang, which probably has a handful of primitive atomic bombs, said on Wednesday it had agreed with Washington to temporarily suspend uranium enrichment, long-range missile tests and warhead detonations in return for 240,000 tonnes of food aid.