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UN hopeful over North Korea deal | UN hopeful over North Korea deal |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The head of UN nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, says he is hopeful that North Korea will meet a key deadline for closing nuclear facilities. | The head of UN nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, says he is hopeful that North Korea will meet a key deadline for closing nuclear facilities. |
Mohamed ElBaradei told journalists he believed Pyongyang wanted to respect the schedule set out in last month's six-party agreement in Beijing. | Mohamed ElBaradei told journalists he believed Pyongyang wanted to respect the schedule set out in last month's six-party agreement in Beijing. |
Under the deal, North Korea has 60 days to seal its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in return for economic and energy aid. | Under the deal, North Korea has 60 days to seal its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, in return for economic and energy aid. |
There have been some positive signs from other parties to the agreement. | There have been some positive signs from other parties to the agreement. |
South Korea - which signed the deal along with the US, China, Russia and Japan - has announced it will resume aid shipments to the North. | South Korea - which signed the deal along with the US, China, Russia and Japan - has announced it will resume aid shipments to the North. |
It suspended the shipments following Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests last year. | It suspended the shipments following Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests last year. |
The US, meanwhile, has taken steps that could lead to the release of North Korean accounts frozen in a Macau bank - a key North Korean demand. | |
North Korea on Saturday reaffirmed that it would not shut down facilities until the funds were fully released. | |
'Up to them' | 'Up to them' |
Mr ElBaradei was speaking after he returned to the Austrian capital, Vienna, after holding talks in Pyongyang on the resumption of international inspections. | Mr ElBaradei was speaking after he returned to the Austrian capital, Vienna, after holding talks in Pyongyang on the resumption of international inspections. |
Will N Korea keep its vow? Q&A: Nuclear standoff | Will N Korea keep its vow? Q&A: Nuclear standoff |
He said he hoped the 13 April deadline for the closure of the Yongbyon reactor would be met. | He said he hoped the 13 April deadline for the closure of the Yongbyon reactor would be met. |
"We still hope we'll do it but it is up to them now," he said. "The earlier they invite us, the more possible that we will meet the deadline." | "We still hope we'll do it but it is up to them now," he said. "The earlier they invite us, the more possible that we will meet the deadline." |
"If the financial sanctions are over, then we expect the DPRK (North Korea) to invite us to work out the modalities of monitoring and verification" of the Yongbyon closure, he said. | "If the financial sanctions are over, then we expect the DPRK (North Korea) to invite us to work out the modalities of monitoring and verification" of the Yongbyon closure, he said. |
IAEA inspectors were on standby to go to North Korea if there was a breakthrough, he said. | IAEA inspectors were on standby to go to North Korea if there was a breakthrough, he said. |
Separately, US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said that good progress had been made in the month since the deal. | Separately, US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said that good progress had been made in the month since the deal. |
"I would say we're in pretty good shape after 30 days, but now the next 30 days will involve some very serious implementation," he told journalists in Beijing. | "I would say we're in pretty good shape after 30 days, but now the next 30 days will involve some very serious implementation," he told journalists in Beijing. |
Mr Hill is in the Chinese capital for preparatory discussions ahead of more high-level talks on implementing the deal next week. | Mr Hill is in the Chinese capital for preparatory discussions ahead of more high-level talks on implementing the deal next week. |
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