Pressing ahead, the six negotiators worked double time over the past six days. Diplomacy and fortitude have paid off: The fifth round of the Six-Party Talks ended with an agreement.

It is an outcome that the international community has waited for far too long. The breakthrough is a profoundly encouraging achievement for the six nations, namely the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

Coming to Beijing with a sense of optimism last Thursday, the six negotiators entered into hard bargaining, particular on Monday when they met and talked on multilateral and bilateral levels till the early hours of the next day.