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N Korea 'serious about disarming' UN 'will visit' N Korea reactor
(about 1 hour later)
North Korea is committed to its pledge to close the Yongbyon reactor and dismantle its nuclear programme, an EU lawmaker said after a four-day trip. A team of UN nuclear inspectors will visit the North Korean nuclear reactor at the centre of a key disarmament deal, Kyodo news agency reports.
However, Hubert Pirker, who led a five-member EU delegation, said no specific timeline was given. "We're going to Yongbyon," said team leader Olli Heinonen, adding that they would go on Thursday and return to the capital, Pyongyang, on Friday.
He said details would be decided by North Korea and UN nuclear inspectors who arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday. North Korea has pledged to close the Yongbyon reactor in return for aid.
The visit comes after a long delay in the implementation of a nuclear disarmament deal agreed in February. South Korea's foreign minister said on Wednesday he was confident the reactor would shut "as early as possible".
The four-person team from the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday, the first such visit since 2002.
It comes after a long delay in the implementation of a nuclear disarmament deal agreed in February.
N KOREAN BANKING ROW 13 Feb 2007: Landmark nuclear disarmament deal agreed at six-party talksMarch: N Korea refuses further progress on the deal until it has access to funds frozen in a Macau bankApril: N Korea misses a deadline to "shut down and seal" its Yongbyon nuclear reactor 25 June: Pyongyang finally says it has the funds26 June: IAEA nuclear inspectors arrive in PyongyangN KOREAN BANKING ROW 13 Feb 2007: Landmark nuclear disarmament deal agreed at six-party talksMarch: N Korea refuses further progress on the deal until it has access to funds frozen in a Macau bankApril: N Korea misses a deadline to "shut down and seal" its Yongbyon nuclear reactor 25 June: Pyongyang finally says it has the funds26 June: IAEA nuclear inspectors arrive in Pyongyang
The agreement was stalled by a row over North Korean funds that were frozen in a Macau bank under US-instigated sanctions.The agreement was stalled by a row over North Korean funds that were frozen in a Macau bank under US-instigated sanctions.
The North refused to make any progress on the deal until it had access to the money.The North refused to make any progress on the deal until it had access to the money.
On Monday, Pyongyang said it had finally received its $25m (£12.5m) funds, and confirmed it would proceed to close down Yongbyon, its main nuclear reactor.On Monday, Pyongyang said it had finally received its $25m (£12.5m) funds, and confirmed it would proceed to close down Yongbyon, its main nuclear reactor.
'A warm welcome' Expanding relations
The EU delegation brought back a positive message that the North was serious about its nuclear decommissioning. The EU delegation which returned to the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Wednesday brought back a positive message that the North was serious about its nuclear decommissioning.
Hubert Pirker also said the North Korean officials were positive about relations with the US and the international community. EU parliamentarian Hubert Pirker said the North Korean officials were positive about relations with the US and the international community.
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 N Korea timelineN 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 N Korea timeline
The South Korean foreign minister also sounded a positive note on the timetable for closing Yongbyon.The South Korean foreign minister also sounded a positive note on the timetable for closing Yongbyon.
"After the consultation is over, I think it will be shut down as early as possible," said Song Min-soon."After the consultation is over, I think it will be shut down as early as possible," said Song Min-soon.
In North Korea, Pyongyang officials expressed interest in expanding economic ties with the EU and said they hoped to work together on building hydro-electric power stations, developing light industry and improving food production. In North Korea, Pyongyang officials expressed interest in expanding economic ties with the EU and said they hoped to work together on building hydro-electric power stations, developing light industry and improving food production, Mr Pirker said.
Meanwhile a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is still in North Korea negotiating the details for shutting down the country's main nuclear reactor.
The IAEA officials said they had received a warm welcome so far but that it was still unclear when the shutting down of the nuclear reactor would take place.
It is the first time IAEA inspectors have been allowed into the country since 2002.
Food aidFood aid
South Korea said on Tuesday that it would resume food aid to the impoverished North, now that the dispute over frozen North Korean funds had been solved.South Korea said on Tuesday that it would resume food aid to the impoverished North, now that the dispute over frozen North Korean funds had been solved.
The deliveries of rice to the country, which is still struggling with food shortages, are expected to start on 30 June.The deliveries of rice to the country, which is still struggling with food shortages, are expected to start on 30 June.
The entire shipment of 400,000 tonnes of food is expected to take about six months to complete.The entire shipment of 400,000 tonnes of food is expected to take about six months to complete.
South Korea suspended food aid shipments a year ago after its northern neighbour test-fired long range missiles, before then testing a nuclear weapon in October.South Korea suspended food aid shipments a year ago after its northern neighbour test-fired long range missiles, before then testing a nuclear weapon in October.
Seoul had intended to resume the shipments in April after February's deal, but put them on hold while the nuclear issue was in doubt.Seoul had intended to resume the shipments in April after February's deal, but put them on hold while the nuclear issue was in doubt.