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US upbeat on NKorea nuclear talks SKorea resumes food aid to North
(about 4 hours later)
The US has expressed hopes that international talks on North Korea's nuclear programme could resume in July. South Korea says it will resume food aid to North Korea, a day after Pyongyang said it would implement a nuclear disarmament deal.
Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill also said North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear reactor could be disabled by the end of the year. The deliveries of rice to the country, still struggling with food shortages, are due to start on 30 June.
Meanwhile, UN nuclear inspectors are due in Pyongyang on Tuesday for talks on monitoring the reactor's shutdown. North Korea said it would close the Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid, after a row over funds was resolved.
North Korea confirmed earlier it would begin implementing a February deal to close the reactor in exchange for aid. UN nuclear inspectors are due to arrive on Tuesday for talks on monitoring the reactor's shutdown.
Pyongyang also said it received $25m (£12.5m) following a funding row that had hindered progress on the 13 February deal. The row over the payment of $25m (£12.5m) in aid had held up implementation of a deal agreed in February between Pyongyang and the International Atomic Energy Agency to disable Yongbyon.
The agreement to shut down Yongbyon was reached at six-party talks between the US, China, Russia, the two Koreas and Japan. The agreement to shut down Yongbyon was reached on 13 February after six-party talks between the US, China, Russia, the two Koreas and Japan.
South Korea had suspended food aid while the nuclear deal was in doubt.
"The first shipment weighing 3,000 tons of rice will leave here on Saturday for North Korea's port of Nampo," announced Unification Minister Lee Jae-Joung.
"The implementation of the 13 February deal was necessary for this," he said.
'Ministerial talks''Ministerial talks'
Briefing reporters after his surprise last week's visit to North Korea, Mr Hill said he was proceeding on the assumption that North Korea was serious about abandoning its nuclear programme. The US has expressed hopes that international talks on North Korea's nuclear programme could resume in July.
Briefing reporters after his surprise last week's visit to North Korea, chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said he was proceeding on the assumption that North Korea was serious about abandoning its nuclear programme.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons 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" Q&A: The bank rowN KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons 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" Q&A: The bank row
He said the closure of Yongbyon would be the trigger for discussing wider issues with North Korea, such as economic assistance and peace talks.He said the closure of Yongbyon would be the trigger for discussing wider issues with North Korea, such as economic assistance and peace talks.
Mr Hill expressed hopes that a fresh round of the six-party talks could be held as early as July.Mr Hill expressed hopes that a fresh round of the six-party talks could be held as early as July.
He also held out the prospect of a meeting that would include US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and North Korea's foreign minister taking place later this summer.He also held out the prospect of a meeting that would include US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and North Korea's foreign minister taking place later this summer.
"I can't say whether it's at the Asean regional forum or just before or just after, but some time in that time frame," Mr Hill said, referring to the Asean summit in Manila on 2 August."I can't say whether it's at the Asean regional forum or just before or just after, but some time in that time frame," Mr Hill said, referring to the Asean summit in Manila on 2 August.
But he stressed that further progress depended on North Korea's coming clean on a number of issues - including whether it had stockpiles of enriched uranium.But he stressed that further progress depended on North Korea's coming clean on a number of issues - including whether it had stockpiles of enriched uranium.
IAEA visitIAEA visit
Mr Hill comments come as UN nuclear inspectors are due to arrive in Pyongyang for a five-day visit.Mr Hill comments come as UN nuclear inspectors are due to arrive in Pyongyang for a five-day visit.
The team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will discuss procedures for monitoring the shut down of Yongbyon's reactor.The team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will discuss procedures for monitoring the shut down of Yongbyon's reactor.
It will be the first time the IAEA has visited the country since inspectors were forced to leave in 2002.It will be the first time the IAEA has visited the country since inspectors were forced to leave in 2002.
The invitation by Pyongyang came after the settlement of a prolonged row over North Korea's frozen funds in a Macau bank under US-instigated sanctions.The invitation by Pyongyang came after the settlement of a prolonged row over North Korea's frozen funds in a Macau bank under US-instigated sanctions.
On Sunday, North Korea confirmed that it finally received $25m (£12.5m) via a Russian bank that acted as an intermediary in the transfer of the funds.On Sunday, North Korea confirmed that it finally received $25m (£12.5m) via a Russian bank that acted as an intermediary in the transfer of the funds.