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US envoy Hill visits North Korea US envoy Hill visits North Korea
(about 2 hours later)
US envoy Christopher Hill has flown to North Korea amid speculation that international talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme could restart soon. US envoy Christopher Hill has flown to North Korea amid speculation that international talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme could soon restart.
The US state department said Mr Hill - the highest-ranking American to visit North Korea for five years - would try to move the process forward. The US State Department said Mr Hill - the highest-ranking American to visit North Korea for five years - would try to move the process forward.
On Wednesday Mr Hill said he expected the six-party talks to resume in July.On Wednesday Mr Hill said he expected the six-party talks to resume in July.
They had been held up by a row over North Korean funds that were frozen in Macau, but have now been released. They had been held up by a dispute over North Korean funds frozen in Macau, but this now seems to have been resolved.
The issue had been a continual sticking point for progress towards disarmament. Funding row
The South Korean news agency Yonhap said Mr Hill had left from a US military base in South Korea early on Thursday, and planned to return on Friday.
He has already visited Japan, China, and South Korea in recent days.
On Monday, the UN's nuclear watchdog confirmed that its inspectors would be travelling to North Korea next week to discuss shutting down the Yongbyon reactor.
North Korea forced out nuclear inspectors in 2002 and since then has claimed to be working towards building up a nuclear arsenal.
In October last year, a nuclear device was tested underground in the north of the country.
The funding row was a continual sticking point in progress towards disarmament.
Pyongyang agreed in February to shut down its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in return for aid.Pyongyang agreed in February to shut down its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in return for aid.
But the North Koreans insisted they would not make any progress until they had received the money.But the North Koreans insisted they would not make any progress until they had received the money.
Mr Hill announced on Tuesday that the funds had been returned.Mr Hill announced on Tuesday that the funds had been returned.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap said Mr Hill had left from a US military base in South Korea early on Thursday, and planned to return on Friday.
He has visited Japan, China, and South Korea in recent days.