N Korea considers early shutdown

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North Korea says it is considering suspending operations at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor earlier than expected.

In a statement, Pyongyang said it could act as soon as it received the first shipment of energy aid promised under an international disarmament deal.

South Korea announced earlier that it would send the first shipment - 6,200 tons of heavy fuel oil - on 12 July.

Under the deal, which was agreed in February, Pyongyang agreed to close its reactor for economic and energy aid.

North Korea "is now earnestly examining even the issue of suspending the operation of its nuclear facilities earlier than expected - that is from the moment the first shipment of heavy oil... is made," the statement from the foreign ministry said.

The delivery is expected to arrive in North Korea on 14 July.

Positive signs

North Korea's move was "prompted by the desire to facilitate the process of the six-party talks," the statement said, referring to the ongoing discussions at which the February deal was agreed.

In Beijing, South Korean negotiator Chun Yung-woo said he expected the talks - involving negotiators from Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and the US - to resume "this month".

Implementation of the deal stalled for several weeks because of a financial disagreement, and North Korea missed the initial deadline for it to shut down its reactor.

But the disagreement has now been resolved and in recent weeks there have been a number of positive signs.

Last week, North Korea allowed inspectors from the nuclear watchdog the IAEA into Yongbyon to assess how to monitor the reactor's closure.

And on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il made a rare statement, saying that there were signs tensions were "easing" on the Korean Peninsula.