'Three weeks' until North Korea's nuclear shutdown
US envoy Christopher Hill speaking yesterday in Seoul
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Saturday, 23, Jun 2007 10:38
North Korea is likely to begin dismantling its nuclear reactor complex within three weeks, US envoy Christopher Hill has said.
Speaking to reporters earlier today in Tokyo, Mr Hill revealed a shutdown of the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon would be followed by the resumption of six-party talks between North and South Korea, China, Japan, the US and the UN.
His comments follow a brief visit to North Korea earlier this week when he secured agreement that inspectors from the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAE), would travel to the reclusive communist state to oversee the process.
"Shutting down the reactor does not solve all our problems, it's just the beginning, but in order to solve all our problems we're going to have to make this beginning," Mr Hill explained.
It is hoped Pyongyang will continue to agree with the accords laid down in February after months of painstaking negotiations were triggered by North Korea testing an atomic bomb on October 9th last year.
Concerns had been raised by delays over the transfer of frozen funds from a Macau bank to Kim Jong-il's regime but this setback appears to have been dealt with successfully.
Under the February agreement, North Korea will receive aid and diplomatic benefits in return for shutting down its reactors. IAEA inspectors are due to arrive at Yongbyon on Tuesday.