ElBaradei in North Korea for talks

[IAEA, 12 March; BBC, 13 March] Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is leading a high-level agency delegation to North Korea to begin two days of talks on issues of "mutual concern." He welcomed the visit as "the first step in a long process" toward establishing a new framework for cooperation between North Korea and the IAEA. It is the first visit to North Korea by the IAEA since 2002, when North Korea expelled IAEA inspectors after the USA accused the country of reneging on its part of an international agreement by allegedly launching an illegal program to enrich uranium for weapons production. ElBaradei said he would like to discuss the "broad framework for how to implement the Beijing Agreement among the Six-Party talks which foresees that the Agency will monitor and verify the freeze of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility." He will meet with Chinese officials in Beijing before and after his visit to Pyongyang. Whilst in North Korea, ElBaradei is also expected to ask for a timetable for the return of IAEA inspectors. Under an agreement reached in February, North Korea agreed to "shut down and seal" the Yongbyon reactor by 13 April in exchange for aid.

Further information

IAEA

WNA's Nuclear Power in Korea information paper
WNA's Appendix to Safeguards to Prevent Nuclear Proliferation information paper