US atomic inspectors have arrived in North Korea to supervise the first steps of disabling the country’s nuclear facilities under an agreement reached in February during the six-nation diplomatic process.
The nine-member American team will first oversee the decommissioning of the main reactor in Yongbyon, which has produced weapons-grade plutonium.
“They are all very highly motivated and ready to go on with the first stages of the actual disablement,” said Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.
“We are very satisfied that we have an overall plan that will be effective and that will provide the disablement that we need.”
Mr Hill was the chief US envoy in the historic six-party summit in which North Korea’s de-nuclearization was negotiated. The other nations involved were China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.
China has been lauded for taking the lead in the diplomatic talks, as North Korea’s neighbor and closest ally.
“We believe the Chinese really have done an excellent job. They have really shown great diplomatic capabilities,” said Mr Hill.
As part of the agreement, North Korea will receive one million tonnes of fuel oil and a range of humanitarian aid and diplomatic incentives that could lead to the normalization of relations with the US.
Mr Hill says he is cautiously optimistic that the process will be followed through to the irreversible dismantling of North Korea’s atomic facilities by December 31, the deadline set under the terms of the accord. However, he acknowledged that there is always the potential for last-minute hurdles.
He refused to be drawn on whether the US should take a similar diplomatic approach regarding Iran’s nuclear program, saying that that involves “a different situation, a different region”.
Who's paying for the million tonnes? Written by Boudreaux
on 11/1/2007
I thought we didnt deal with terrorists. I want a nuclear weapon so i can start my own country and threaten to use it if everyone doesnt pay me not too. Written by mongo
on 11/1/2007
