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
N. Korea Said Ready to Close Reactor in July
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, South Korea, Thursday,...   (Associated Press)

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. (More North Korea stories.)

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