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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| N Korea closes more nuclear sites | N Korea closes more nuclear sites |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| North Korea has shut down all five nuclear facilities at its main Yongbyon complex, International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei says. | North Korea has shut down all five nuclear facilities at its main Yongbyon complex, International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei says. |
| IAEA monitors in North Korea had verified the four new closures, Mr ElBaradei told journalists in Malaysia. | IAEA monitors in North Korea had verified the four new closures, Mr ElBaradei told journalists in Malaysia. |
| North Korea shut down its sole working reactor at Yongbyon on Saturday. | North Korea shut down its sole working reactor at Yongbyon on Saturday. |
| The move comes with international envoys meeting in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to discuss the next steps in North Korea's nuclear disarmament deal. | The move comes with international envoys meeting in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to discuss the next steps in North Korea's nuclear disarmament deal. |
| "We have verified that all five nuclear facilities have been shut down and that appropriate measures have been put in place, including sealing some of these facilities," Mr ElBaradei told journalists in Kuala Lumpur. | "We have verified that all five nuclear facilities have been shut down and that appropriate measures have been put in place, including sealing some of these facilities," Mr ElBaradei told journalists in Kuala Lumpur. |
| The more transparency we get, the quicker we will be able to verify that everything in the DPRK (North Korea) has been declared Mohamed ElBaradeiIAEA chief | The more transparency we get, the quicker we will be able to verify that everything in the DPRK (North Korea) has been declared Mohamed ElBaradeiIAEA chief |
| "We expect that in the next few weeks we will continue to apply the necessary monitoring and verification measures," he said. | "We expect that in the next few weeks we will continue to apply the necessary monitoring and verification measures," he said. |
| Facilities shut down include construction sites for a reactor and a fuel reprocessing site. | Facilities shut down include construction sites for a reactor and a fuel reprocessing site. |
| The Yongbyon closures are the first step in a deal agreed in February 2007, under which North Korea is to receive a total of one million tons of energy aid if it ends its nuclear programme. | The Yongbyon closures are the first step in a deal agreed in February 2007, under which North Korea is to receive a total of one million tons of energy aid if it ends its nuclear programme. |
| Second phase | Second phase |
| Negotiators for the six countries involved in the deal - the US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, as well as North Korea - are meeting for two days of talks in Beijing. | Negotiators for the six countries involved in the deal - the US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, as well as North Korea - are meeting for two days of talks in Beijing. |
| They want North Korea to agree to a timetable for the deal's second phase, under which it must declare and disable all its nuclear facilities. | They want North Korea to agree to a timetable for the deal's second phase, under which it must declare and disable all its nuclear facilities. |
| 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: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisis | 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: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisis |
| "We all know that we've got a long road ahead of us with many steps," US envoy Christopher Hill said ahead of the talks. | "We all know that we've got a long road ahead of us with many steps," US envoy Christopher Hill said ahead of the talks. |
| "Maybe we could try to agree on getting these next phase things done in calendar year 07," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. | "Maybe we could try to agree on getting these next phase things done in calendar year 07," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. |
| For his part, before leaving Pyongyang, North Korean negotiator Kim Kye-gwan said that the six-party talks would address "obligations and actions" to be taken by all sides. | For his part, before leaving Pyongyang, North Korean negotiator Kim Kye-gwan said that the six-party talks would address "obligations and actions" to be taken by all sides. |
| Analysts say that while the Yongbyon closures are an important step, persuading North Korea to fully disclose all of its nuclear facilities and agree to their being disabled is likely to be a long and difficult process. | Analysts say that while the Yongbyon closures are an important step, persuading North Korea to fully disclose all of its nuclear facilities and agree to their being disabled is likely to be a long and difficult process. |
| One hurdle is the US allegation that North Korea - which carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 - has a secret uranium enrichment programme. Pyongyang denies this. | One hurdle is the US allegation that North Korea - which carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 - has a secret uranium enrichment programme. Pyongyang denies this. |
| "Uranium enrichment is an ongoing issue and, believe me, we are working on it," Mr Hill said. | "Uranium enrichment is an ongoing issue and, believe me, we are working on it," Mr Hill said. |
| Mr ElBaradei emphasised that full transparency from Pyongyang was the key. | Mr ElBaradei emphasised that full transparency from Pyongyang was the key. |
| "The more transparency we get, the quicker we will be able to verify that everything in the DPRK (North Korea) has been declared," he said. Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? Are you worried about the nuclear leak? Send us your comments using the form below: | |