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US envoy Hill visits North Korea US envoy Hill visits North Korea
(about 9 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.
But optimism at the visit has been dampened by news that a planned trip by UN nuclear inspectors may not go ahead. Optimism at the visit has been dampened by reports that a planned trip by UN nuclear inspectors may not go ahead.
A North Korean spokesman said the visit would only be confirmed when funds frozen in a Macau bank were released.A North Korean spokesman said the visit would only be confirmed when funds frozen in a Macau bank were released.
The US said earlier this week that the money had already been transferred, but the North appears to think otherwise.The US said earlier this week that the money had already been transferred, but the North appears to think otherwise.
"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. Russian officials gave assurances on Thursday that $25m (£12.5m) was being transferred to Pyongyang's accounts.
The inspectors were due to arrive in Pyongyang next week - their first visit since they were forced out of the country in 2002. However, Pyongyang could not confirm the international delegation's visit until it had verified the transfer.
Turnaround 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" class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm">Q&A: Nuclear standoff
The inspectors are due to arrive in Pyongyang next week - their first visit since they were forced out of the country in 2002.
"Our side has informed the IAEA [UN nuclear watchdog] that we have no objection to them preparing the visit as a plan, but we are not [yet] ready to give our official confirmation for the visit," a North Korean diplomat said in Vienna.
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.
He is scheduled to have two days of talks on the long-delayed agreement to shut down the North's nuclear weapons programme. The two-day visit was expected to focus on an agreement to shut down North Korea's Yongbyon reactor in exchange for economic aid.
Analysts say his visit is an important turnaround in US policy. North Korea has pledged to shut down its main reactor at YongbyonProgress on the February deal has been slow, largely due to the row over North Korean funds frozen in a Macau back.
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.
The US state department has denied that the visit signals a major shift in US policy, but the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says Mr Hill's presence in the country will be seen as a positive sign.
Washington has long rejected bilateral negotiations with North Korea, favouring six-party talks involving the whole region.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.
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 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, sparking hopes that talks on the North's nuclear programme could soon restart.
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.