WORLD / Asia-Pacific
N.Korea plans to shut reactor in July
(Reuters/Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-06-18 17:03
BEIJING - North Korea plans to seal its main nuclear reactor and source
of weapons-grade plutonium in the second half of July, Russia's Interfax
news agency reported on Monday, citing an unidentified North Korean
diplomatic source.
South and North Korean women carry a "unification flag" signifying the
Korean peninsula during the Grand Celebration for National Unification in
Pyongyang June 17, 2007. [Reuters]
"To stop the reactor, it will take about a month according to our
specialists," the source said, Interfax reported.
"So we are counting on sealing it (the reactor) in the second half of
July, in accordance with the agreements reached at the six-party talks,"
the source said.
The report comes as North Korea said at the weekend it has invited UN
nuclear inspectors into the country as part of a deal reached in February
to shut down its Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid.
South Korea has contacted at least two refiners to supply North Korea
with 50,000 tons of oil pledged to Pyongyang if it started to shut the
Yongbyon nuclear plant located about 100 km (60 miles) north of
Pyongyang, industry sources said in Seoul said on Monday.
"The ministry has already notified a number of refiners so that the
purchase could be made within this week," said a refinery source.
US and South Korean officials were encouraged by the developments and saw
a good chance for progress in the nuclear deal reached in February among
the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Hill upbeat on Six-Party talks process
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill speaks at a news
conference June 18, 2007. [Reuters]
"This was an important weekend, ... this is an event we are looking
forward to," Hill told reporters before heading to the airport.
"Today I have completed some useful discussions with my Chinese
counterpart Wu Dawei and review on the six-party process," he said.
Hill would continue on to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan for
consultations on when to start the next meeting of the talks on the DPRK
nuclear issue.
"Obviously, the bank issue took a long time, longer than many of us want
to see," Hill said.
He voiced his confidence in implementing the February agreement, saying
he still believed it was possible to make up the lost time and move to
the next phase of disabling nuclear facilities.
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