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June 26, 2007 
IAEA Inspectors in North Korea
to Discuss Reactor Shutdown

Pyongyang
A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived here Tuesday to discuss the shutdown of North Korea's nuclear facilities at Yongbyon.

It is the UN watchdog's first visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since late 2002. This visit came after US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill paid a productive visit to the country last Friday.

Olli Heinonen, head of the delegation and IAEA deputy director general, said he was optimistic about the talks with his North Korean counterpart.

"We are going to negotiate arrangement for ratification of shutting down and sealing Yongbyon facilities with the DPRK during the three-day visit," he said.

Heinonen, who was greeted by Son Mon-san, head of the international department of DPRK's Atomic Energy General Bureau (AEGB), added that the delegates planned to visit the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon during their three-day trip.

Pyongyang invited an IAEA working-level delegation June 16 to discuss shutting down the Yongbyon reactor, as required under an accord reached February 13 in China.

North Korea expelled IAEA nuclear inspectors in December 2002, and in January 2003, the country publicly withdrew from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Under the February agreement, North Korea pledged to shut down the Yongbyon reactor within 60 days in exchange of 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid.

Hill said last Saturday North Korea might shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facilities "within probably three weeks."

The IAEA visit came after the DPRK announced Monday that the frozen fund dispute with the United States had been resolved.

Pyongyang had insisted that its $25 million frozen under US sanctions in Macao be returned before the Yongbyon nuclear reactor was shut down and new negotiations were started. 

Xinhua | June 26, 2007  

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