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Nuclear chief warns over N Korea UN nuclear chief in North Korea
(about 21 hours later)
The head of the UN nuclear agency has warned of a "complex process" ahead as he travels to North Korea to discuss dismantling its nuclear programme. The head of the UN nuclear agency has arrived in North Korea, to hold talks on dismantling its nuclear programme.
Mohamed ElBaradei, who is in China ahead of the visit, said that a lot of confidence needed to be built between his agency and the North. Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters that he hoped his agency could make progress in its relationship with the North.
He said he hoped to agree a timetable for the return of UN inspectors. During his visit, he is also expected to ask Pyongyang for a timetable for the return of UN inspectors.
Under a 13 February deal, North Korea agreed to "shut down and seal" its only nuclear reactor within 60 days. Under a deal reached last month, North Korea agreed to "shut down and seal" its only nuclear reactor within 60 days, in exchange for extra aid.
In return for closing the Yongbyon facility, the country will receive 50,000 tonnes of fuel aid or economic aid of equal value. The North is to receive 50,000 tonnes of fuel or economic aid of equal value after closing the Yongbyon facility.
A further 950,000 tonnes of fuel oil or an equivalent is to be made available when the North permanently disables its nuclear operations.A further 950,000 tonnes of fuel oil or an equivalent is to be made available when the North permanently disables its nuclear operations.
The February deal, reached at six-party talks in Beijing, followed North Korea's nuclear and missile tests last year, which drew international condemnation and sanctions. The deal - reached at six-party talks in Beijing on 13 February - followed North Korea's nuclear and missile tests last year, which drew international condemnation and sanctions.
"We hope to discuss... how we can implement the agreements reached at the six-party talks. I hope the outcome is positive," China's official Xinhua news agency quoted Mr ElBaradei as saying after he arrived in Pyongyang.
'Incremental process''Incremental process'
Mr ElBaradei's trip to Pyongyang comes more than four years after inspectors with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were kicked out of North Korea when a previous disarmament deal fell apart. Mr ElBaradei's trip to North Korea comes more than four years after inspectors with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were kicked out of North Korea, when a previous disarmament deal fell apart.
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closelyN KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely
Mr ElBaradei said he hoped the inspections would resume "in time to implement the agreement of the six-party talks". While on a visit to China before arriving in Pyongyang, Mr ElBaradei said he hoped the inspections would resume "in time to implement the agreement of the six-party talks".
"I'd like this trip to at least establish the framework and then gradually move forward," he said. "It is in their interests obviously to keep to that deadline, but we'll see.""I'd like this trip to at least establish the framework and then gradually move forward," he said. "It is in their interests obviously to keep to that deadline, but we'll see."
Mr ElBaradei said he also hoped to discuss the resumption of the North's membership of the IAEA.Mr ElBaradei said he also hoped to discuss the resumption of the North's membership of the IAEA.
But he warned of a long way to go before relations will be normalised. But he warned of a long way to go before relations were normalised.
"It is going to be a very incremental process," he told reporters as he landed in Beijing en route to Pyongyang. "It is going to be a very incremental process," he told reporters in Beijing on Monday.
"There's a lot of confidence that needs to be built.""There's a lot of confidence that needs to be built."
Mr ElBaradei said he planned to hold meetings in China - North Korea's closest ally and a key broker of the 13 February deal - before he leaves for North Korea on Tuesday.