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US 'resolves N Korea funds row' | US 'resolves N Korea funds row' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US says it has resolved a financial row with North Korea as talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme resume in the Chinese capital, Beijing. | The US says it has resolved a financial row with North Korea as talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme resume in the Chinese capital, Beijing. |
The US said $25m of North Korean funds frozen in a bank in Macau amid money laundering allegations would be transferred to an account in Beijing. | The US said $25m of North Korean funds frozen in a bank in Macau amid money laundering allegations would be transferred to an account in Beijing. |
The North had said it would not proceed with a deal to shut its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon without the money. | The North had said it would not proceed with a deal to shut its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon without the money. |
The deal, agreed last month, will be the focus of the latest talks. | The deal, agreed last month, will be the focus of the latest talks. |
'Assurances' | 'Assurances' |
US Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary Daniel Glaser said the $25m, held in the Banco Delta Asia in Macau, would be transferred to a Bank of China account in Beijing. | US Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary Daniel Glaser said the $25m, held in the Banco Delta Asia in Macau, would be transferred to a Bank of China account in Beijing. |
We can now move on, said chief US negotiator Christopher Hill | |
Mr Glaser said the US had received "assurances" that the funds would then be used for educational and humanitarian programmes in the North. | Mr Glaser said the US had received "assurances" that the funds would then be used for educational and humanitarian programmes in the North. |
The issue had been seen as a stumbling block to completing February's breakthrough agreement on the nuclear issue. | The issue had been seen as a stumbling block to completing February's breakthrough agreement on the nuclear issue. |
The six nations at the talks - China, Russia, Japan, the US and both Koreas - had agreed that Pyongyang would shut down its reactor at Yongbyon within 60 days in return for aid. | The six nations at the talks - China, Russia, Japan, the US and both Koreas - had agreed that Pyongyang would shut down its reactor at Yongbyon within 60 days in return for aid. |
International inspectors would then be allowed into the site. | International inspectors would then be allowed into the site. |
But North Korean negotiator Kim Kye-gwan had warned as negotiators arrived in Beijing for the latest round of talks that his country would not close the reactor without a deal on the cash. | But North Korean negotiator Kim Kye-gwan had warned as negotiators arrived in Beijing for the latest round of talks that his country would not close the reactor without a deal on the cash. |
Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said the resolution meant the six nations could "move on to the next problem, of which there are many". | |
The US last week ended an inquiry into the bank affair, opening the door for Macau to free the funds. | The US last week ended an inquiry into the bank affair, opening the door for Macau to free the funds. |
Under the deal agreed last month, the North will receive aid worth one million tonnes of heavy fuel oil for dismantling its nuclear programme. | Under the deal agreed last month, the North will receive aid worth one million tonnes of heavy fuel oil for dismantling its nuclear programme. |
South Korean envoy Chun Yung-woo said Pyongyang had indicated it had begun preparations to shut Yongbyon. | South Korean envoy Chun Yung-woo said Pyongyang had indicated it had begun preparations to shut Yongbyon. |
Ahead of Monday's resumption, Pyongyang condemned joint US-South Korean military exercises set for this month, saying they were intended to "poison the atmosphere of the talks". | Ahead of Monday's resumption, Pyongyang condemned joint US-South Korean military exercises set for this month, saying they were intended to "poison the atmosphere of the talks". |
The state run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the North was ready "for both war and talks". | The state run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the North was ready "for both war and talks". |