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N. Korea Said Ready to Close Reactor in July

Pariah set to come in from the nuclear cold

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2007 7:43 AM CDT

(Newser) – North Korea will close down its main nuclear reactor as early as next month, Reuters reports, citing Russia's Interfax news agency. UN  nuclear inspectors have been invited into the country; now a diplomatic source tell Interfax that inspectors will be present as the Yongbyon reactor, which produces weapons-grade plutonium, begins to shut down in late July.

The month-long process of sealing the plant fulfills part of a February agreement to move towards a shut-down in exchange for international aid. The aid that would follow  denuclearization could start with 50,000 tons of oil to be furnished by South Korea; more talks are expected after the plant is closed.

A South Korean man looks on a picture showing the 2000 South and North Korean summit meeting by then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, left, and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, right, at a venue for an event celebrating the seventh anniversary of their June 2000 summit in Seoul,...
A South Korean man looks on a picture showing the 2000 South and North Korean summit meeting by then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, left, and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, right, at a venue for...   (Associated Press)
In this photo taken by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency and released by Korea News Service in Tokyo on Saturday, June 9, 2007, shown is North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, viewing farms and fields during his visit to the Sinam Cooperative Farm in Ryongchon County, North...
In this photo taken by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency and released by Korea News Service in Tokyo on Saturday, June 9, 2007, shown is North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, viewing...   (Associated Press)
Two North Korean soldiers observe the south side through binoculars at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, June 16, 2007. North Korea has warned that it might increase its self-defense deterrent,...
Two North Korean soldiers observe the south side through binoculars at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul,...   (Associated Press)
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