The International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday adopted a chairman's conclusion urging North Korea to immediately dismantle its nuclear program.

In a meeting in Vienna, the IAEA's 35-nation board called the North's nuclear ambition a serious challenge to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, urging the dismantlement of its nuclear program in a swift, transparent, verifiable and irreversible manner.

The board also cited the lack of inspections in the North after Pyongyang expelled all IAEA staff in late 2002 and pulled out of the NPT.

The chairman's conclusion said the IAEA welcomes the joint statement reached in the fourth round of the six-party talks in Beijing, and urged implementation of the agreed principles.

South Korean envoy to Vienna Cho Chang-bum said at the meeting that parties to the six-way talks should fully implement the joint statement to resolve the nuclear issue.