North Korea has agreed to suspend its nuclear and long-range missile testing, as well as uranium enrichment, following negotiations with the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the move "a modest step" in the right direction.

"The United States still has profound concerns but on the occasion of Kim Jong Il's death, I said it is our hope that the new leadership will choose to guide their nation on to path of peace by living up it to its obligations," she said.

The country's nuclear suspension could open the door for a return to multi-nation negotiations for food aid in return for disarmament.

North Korean officials have also agreed to allow inspectors to visit its Yongbyon nuclear complex to verify that the country has halted its nuclear work.

For cooperating, Clinton said the United States will meet with North Korea to finalize details for a proposed package of 240,000 metric tons of food aid for the communist nation.

She assured the food aid would be closely monitored to ensure it's not redirected to North Korea's military.