By DPA
Washington : Work to disable North Korea’s nuclear reactor as part of an international disarmament pact can begin in about three weeks, the US State Department said.
A US team of technicians left Pyongyang Thursday after meeting their North Korean counterparts at the facility located in Yongbyon and believe the disablement process can begin “in the next three weeks or so”, deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.
North Korea shut down the reactor earlier this year as part of a February agreement forged through six-nation talks that requires the country to abandon its nuclear activities.
Another US team will soon head to North Korea to join in the permanent disabling of the reactor by the end of the year, Casey said.
“In terms of next steps, what we would be looking for is a technical team to go out and help participate in that actual disablement,” Casey said.
North Korea pledged to give up its nuclear ambitions in return for energy aid and eventual restoration of formal diplomatic relations with the US. The six-nation talks held in Beijing included China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.