N Korea invites UN to nuclear shutdown
N Korea invites UN to nuclear shutdown
By Song Jung-a in Seoul and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: June 17 2007 19:24 | Last updated: June 17 2007 19:24
North Korea has invited UN nuclear inspectors to discuss shutting down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in the first step towards implementing an international agreement aimed at disarming the communist state.
Pyongyang made the move when it became clear that it would soon receive $25m in previously frozen funds that had been a major obstacle to implementing the nuclear deal reached in February at six-party talks between the US, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas.
The announcement sets the stage for a test of whether North Korea intends to move forward on the February agreement. President George W. Bush had reportedly become impatient that his team were having so much difficulty arranging the transfer of the money.
“This is a good step and we all want to move forward with our obligations at a good speed,” said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House national security council.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is set to announce on Monday that it is sending a team of inspectors to North Korea to confirm that the Yongbyon reactor is shut down.
As Washington expects the Macao funds to reach the North Korean bank account in Russia early this week, diplomatic efforts to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons capability are expected to intensify in coming weeks.
The February agreement provides for Pyongyang to receive a series of fuel shipments in return for implementing various stages towards the complete dismantling of its nuclear capability. The deal also paves the way for normalisation of relations between the US and North Korea.
Ri Je-son, the head of the North’s atomic energy department, sent a letter to the IAEA to invite the nuclear watchdog for discussions on ways to verify and monitor “the suspension of the operations of nuclear facilities”.
“A working-level delegation of the IAEA has been invited to visit the DPRK as it is confirmed that the process of de-freezing the funds of the DPRK at the Banco Delta Asia in Macao has reached its final phase,” North Korean news agency KCNA said on Saturday.
As part of the February agreement, Pyongyang agreed to shut down its nuclear reactor within 60 days. But implementation of the deal stalled after the US ran into trouble finding a way to return the money to North Korea. The funds were frozen after the US Treasury accused BDA of helping North Korea launder money.
Christopher Hill, the US negotiator on North Korea, said over the weekend that the money had been sent to Russia.
Some US lawmakers have criticised the move to return the funds after the US Treasury determined that most of the $25m was tainted by illicit activity. Several politicians have asked the Government Accountability Office, an arm of Congress, to evaluate whether the move broke US law.
By Song Jung-a in Seoul and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: June 17 2007 19:24 | Last updated: June 17 2007 19:24
North Korea has invited UN nuclear inspectors to discuss shutting down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in the first step towards implementing an international agreement aimed at disarming the communist state.
Pyongyang made the move when it became clear that it would soon receive $25m in previously frozen funds that had been a major obstacle to implementing the nuclear deal reached in February at six-party talks between the US, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas.
The announcement sets the stage for a test of whether North Korea intends to move forward on the February agreement. President George W. Bush had reportedly become impatient that his team were having so much difficulty arranging the transfer of the money.
“This is a good step and we all want to move forward with our obligations at a good speed,” said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House national security council.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is set to announce on Monday that it is sending a team of inspectors to North Korea to confirm that the Yongbyon reactor is shut down.
As Washington expects the Macao funds to reach the North Korean bank account in Russia early this week, diplomatic efforts to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons capability are expected to intensify in coming weeks.
The February agreement provides for Pyongyang to receive a series of fuel shipments in return for implementing various stages towards the complete dismantling of its nuclear capability. The deal also paves the way for normalisation of relations between the US and North Korea.
Ri Je-son, the head of the North’s atomic energy department, sent a letter to the IAEA to invite the nuclear watchdog for discussions on ways to verify and monitor “the suspension of the operations of nuclear facilities”.
“A working-level delegation of the IAEA has been invited to visit the DPRK as it is confirmed that the process of de-freezing the funds of the DPRK at the Banco Delta Asia in Macao has reached its final phase,” North Korean news agency KCNA said on Saturday.
As part of the February agreement, Pyongyang agreed to shut down its nuclear reactor within 60 days. But implementation of the deal stalled after the US ran into trouble finding a way to return the money to North Korea. The funds were frozen after the US Treasury accused BDA of helping North Korea launder money.
Christopher Hill, the US negotiator on North Korea, said over the weekend that the money had been sent to Russia.
Some US lawmakers have criticised the move to return the funds after the US Treasury determined that most of the $25m was tainted by illicit activity. Several politicians have asked the Government Accountability Office, an arm of Congress, to evaluate whether the move broke US law.
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