The date when North Korea shuts its nuclear reactor now rests on discussions between it and five other countries that signed a disarmament deal, a UN nuclear watchdog official said on Saturday after talks in Pyongyang.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official Olli Heinonen told reporters in Beijing his negotiations in North Korea had clarified how the IAEA will monitor the planned closing of the Yongbyon reactor.
"We have now reached an understanding on how we are going to monitor sealing and shutting down of the Yongbyon facility," IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Director Heinonen told reporters after arriving from Pyongyang after several days of meetings.
But he stressed the timing of the long-negotiated shutdown needed consultation between North Korea and other countries in six-party talks to iron out details. "The next logical step is that they talk with each other and agree on technical arrangements. The IAEA doesn't have any role on that," Heinonen said.