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Seoul bid to solve North bank row Seoul bid to solve North bank row
(2 days later)
South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator is travelling to the US to try to resolve a major stumbling block to North Korea's nuclear disarmament.South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator is travelling to the US to try to resolve a major stumbling block to North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
Chun Yung-woo said he did not want to see a dispute over North Korean bank accounts scupper progress towards ending the North's nuclear programme.Chun Yung-woo said he did not want to see a dispute over North Korean bank accounts scupper progress towards ending the North's nuclear programme.
Washington has lifted a freeze on the North's accounts, but Pyongyang appears to be unable to access the money.Washington has lifted a freeze on the North's accounts, but Pyongyang appears to be unable to access the money.
On Sunday South Korea agreed to resume food aid shipments to the North.On Sunday South Korea agreed to resume food aid shipments to the North.
Following five days of talks in Pyongyang, Seoul said it would begin delivering 400,000 tonnes of rice to its impoverished neighbour.Following five days of talks in Pyongyang, Seoul said it would begin delivering 400,000 tonnes of rice to its impoverished neighbour.
While no reference was made to the North's nuclear programme in the final communique at the talks, Seoul has insisted the aid is linked to progress on disarmament.While no reference was made to the North's nuclear programme in the final communique at the talks, Seoul has insisted the aid is linked to progress on disarmament.
Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung reiterated the South's position on Monday, saying the aid was dependent on whether the North fulfilled its pledge to begin the process of dismantling its nuclear programme.Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung reiterated the South's position on Monday, saying the aid was dependent on whether the North fulfilled its pledge to begin the process of dismantling its nuclear programme.
"The rice issue is not just a humanitarian issue, but a very symbolic and essential task for peace," he told MBC radio."The rice issue is not just a humanitarian issue, but a very symbolic and essential task for peace," he told MBC radio.
'Technical issues''Technical issues'
The North missed a mid-April deadline - agreed on 13 February between the two Koreas, Japan, China, Russia and the US - to "shut down and seal" its Yongbyon reactor in return for aid.The North missed a mid-April deadline - agreed on 13 February between the two Koreas, Japan, China, Russia and the US - to "shut down and seal" its Yongbyon reactor in return for aid.
We cannot continue putting off the more important denuclearisation issue because of this [banking] issue Chun Yung-wooSouth Korea's nuclear envoyWe cannot continue putting off the more important denuclearisation issue because of this [banking] issue Chun Yung-wooSouth Korea's nuclear envoy
Pyongyang made clear it would only close the reactor if $25m (£13m) of its money frozen in the Macau-based bank Banco Delta Asia (BDA) was returned.Pyongyang made clear it would only close the reactor if $25m (£13m) of its money frozen in the Macau-based bank Banco Delta Asia (BDA) was returned.
The US has said the accounts are now unfrozen, and insists it does not know why the North has left the funds untouched.The US has said the accounts are now unfrozen, and insists it does not know why the North has left the funds untouched.
South Korea's Chun Yung-woo said his talks with US counterpart Christopher Hill in Washington would focus on "technical issues" over the banking dispute.South Korea's Chun Yung-woo said his talks with US counterpart Christopher Hill in Washington would focus on "technical issues" over the banking dispute.
"We cannot continue putting off the more important denuclearisation issue because of this BDA issue," he said before leaving Seoul."We cannot continue putting off the more important denuclearisation issue because of this BDA issue," he said before leaving Seoul.
He said the North's demands had "generally been identified", but more time was needed to fully resolve the issue, Yonhap news agency reports.He said the North's demands had "generally been identified", but more time was needed to fully resolve the issue, Yonhap news agency reports.
"Let us wait and see for a little longer because the parties are working hard for the resolution," he said."Let us wait and see for a little longer because the parties are working hard for the resolution," he said.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to 'shut down and seal' Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tonnes of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6556417.stm">Limited outcry class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm">Q&A: Nuclear standoff N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to 'shut down and seal' Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tonnes of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6556417.stm" class="">Limited outcry href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm" class="">Q&A: Nuclear standoff
The nuclear issue, as well as rice aid, was central to intense negotiations between the two Koreas, which went into an unscheduled fifth day on Sunday.The nuclear issue, as well as rice aid, was central to intense negotiations between the two Koreas, which went into an unscheduled fifth day on Sunday.
Seoul, a major food donor to its northern neighbour, suspended aid after Pyongyang's missile tests in July 2006, which was followed by a nuclear test in October.Seoul, a major food donor to its northern neighbour, suspended aid after Pyongyang's missile tests in July 2006, which was followed by a nuclear test in October.
The BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says Pyongyang badly needs the aid, because stocks from last year's harvest are running out.The BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says Pyongyang badly needs the aid, because stocks from last year's harvest are running out.
The first rice shipments are due to begin arriving in the North in May.The first rice shipments are due to begin arriving in the North in May.