This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6224902.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
US envoy Hill visits North Korea US envoy Hill visits North Korea
(about 3 hours later)
US envoy Christopher Hill has made his first trip to North Korea amid speculation that talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme could soon restart.US envoy Christopher Hill has made his first trip to North Korea amid speculation that talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme could soon restart.
The visit to the secretive state comes after the resolution of a long-standing dispute over US financial sanctions. But optimism at the visit has been dampened by news that a planned trip by UN nuclear inspectors may not go ahead.
On Wednesday, Mr Hill said he expected the six-party talks to resume in July. A North Korean spokesman said the visit would only be confirmed when funds frozen in a Macau bank were 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 US said earlier this week that the money had already been transferred, but the North appears to think otherwise.
Analysts say the visit is an important turnaround in US policy. "The visit date of the delegation is not confirmed because the release of the frozen funds... at Banco Delta Asia in Macau has not been completed," North Korean spokesman Hyon Yong-Man said from Vienna.
Washington has long rejected bilateral negotiations with North Korea, favouring six-party talks involving the whole region. The inspectors were due to arrive in Pyongyang next week - their first visit since they were forced out of the country in 2002.
Funding row Turnaround
Mr Hill left for Pyongyang from an air force base near Seoul early on Thursday.Mr Hill left for Pyongyang from an air force base near Seoul early on Thursday.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to 'shut down and seal' Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tonnes of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" Q&A: Nuclear standoff
He is scheduled to have two days of talks on the long-delayed agreement to shut down the North's nuclear weapons programme.He is scheduled to have two days of talks on the long-delayed agreement to shut down the North's nuclear weapons programme.
Mr Hill said he wanted to speed up the process following recent delays. Analysts say his visit is an important turnaround in US policy.
According to the BBC correspondent in Seoul, Charles Scanlon, the visit underlines the new, more conciliatory approach to North Korea being taken by the Bush administration. Washington has long rejected bilateral negotiations with North Korea, favouring six-party talks involving the whole region.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to 'shut down and seal' Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tonnes of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" Q&A: Nuclear standoff
According to the BBC correspondent in Seoul, Charles Scanlon, this trip underlines the new, more conciliatory approach being taken by the Bush administration.
Mr Hill is the most senior US official to visit the country in five years.Mr Hill is the most senior US official to visit the country in five years.
The new urgency is a result of North Korea's test of a nuclear device last October.The new urgency is a result of North Korea's test of a nuclear device last October.
US officials say they want to find out the North's real intentions following its agreement in February to "shut down and seal" its nuclear reactor in return for economic aid.US officials say they want to find out the North's real intentions following its agreement in February to "shut down and seal" its nuclear reactor in return for economic aid.
North Korea has pledged to shut down its main reactor at YongbyonProgress on that agreement has been slow in recent months, largely due to a row over North Korean funds frozen in a Macau back. North Korea has pledged to shut down its main reactor at YongbyonProgress on that agreement has been slow in recent months, largely due to the row over North Korean funds frozen in a Macau back.
The North Koreans insisted they would not move forward on the nuclear deal until they had received the money, but it took a long time for the funds to be transferred. The North Koreans have insisted that they will not move forward on the nuclear deal until they have received the money.
Mr Hill announced on Tuesday that the money had finally been delivered to a North Korean bank account in Russia, and both sides now seem keen to return to the negotiating table. Mr Hill announced on Tuesday that the money had finally been delivered to a North Korean bank account in Russia, sparking hopes that talks on the North's nuclear programme could soon restart.
Last weekend the North invited international inspectors to discuss shutting down its one functioning nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. But now a North Korean envoy has said the funds remain blocked, a comment which is likely to delay the progress of nuclear disarmament yet again.
The inspectors are due to arrive in Pyongyang next week - their first visit since they were forced out of the country in 2002.