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S Korea resumes food aid to North S Korea resumes food aid to North
(30 minutes later)
South Korea says it will resume food aid to North Korea, a day after Pyongyang said it would implement a nuclear disarmament deal.South Korea says it will resume food aid to North Korea, a day after Pyongyang said it would implement a nuclear disarmament deal.
The deliveries of rice to the country, still struggling with food shortages, are due to start on 30 June.The deliveries of rice to the country, still struggling with food shortages, are due to start on 30 June.
North Korea said it would close the Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid, after a row over funds was resolved.North Korea said it would close the Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid, after a row over funds was resolved.
UN nuclear inspectors are due to arrive on Tuesday for talks on monitoring the reactor's shutdown. UN nuclear inspectors have arrived in Pyongyang for talks on monitoring the reactor's shutdown.
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 and seal" Yongbyon was reached on 13 February after 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. But Pyongyang had refused to move forward with the deal until a prolonged row over its frozen funds in a Macau bank under US-instigated sanctions had been resolved.
On Monday, North Korea confirmed that it had finally received $25m (£12.5m) via a Russian bank that acted as an intermediary in the transfer of the funds.
Inspection talks
South Korea had suspended food aid while the nuclear deal was in doubt.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. 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" class="" href="/1/hi/business/6723981.stm">Q&A: The bank row
"The first shipment weighing 3,000 tons of rice will leave here on Saturday for North Korea's port of Nampo," Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung announced on Tuesday.
"The implementation of the 13 February deal was necessary for this," he said."The implementation of the 13 February deal was necessary for this," he said.
'Ministerial talks' South Korea's announcement came hours before a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Pyongyang.
The US has expressed hopes that international talks on North Korea's nuclear programme could resume in July. The head of the team, Olli Heinonen, said they would be discussing procedures for IAEA inspectors to monitor the shut down and sealing of Yongbyon.
"We expect that these talks take about three days... then we will see the outcome," he told reporters in Beijing before leaving for Pyongyang.
Ministerial meeting?
The US has expressed hopes that international talks on North Korea's nuclear programme can resume in July.
Briefing reporters after his surprise visit last week 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.Briefing reporters after his surprise visit last week 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 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 also held out the prospect of a meeting that would include US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and North Korea's foreign minister 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 coming clean on a number of issues - including whether it had stockpiles of enriched uranium.
IAEA 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.
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.
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.