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TOKYO -- North Korea has unofficially agreed with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on resuming inspections of its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, the Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported Tuesday, quoting diplomatic sources that included an IAEA official. According to the IAEA official, the councilor for nuclear affairs of the North Korean embassy in Vienna discussed with him the resumption of inspections. Pyongyang said in the meeting that based on the results of this week¡¯s six-party talks on the North's nuclear program in Beijing, it might accept the resumption of inspections of its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, while the IAEA called for the North to rejoin the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, as well as to resume inspections, Kyodo reported. It is the first time the two sides have met since the North expelled IAEA inspectors from its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon in December 2002.
According to Kyodo News, North Korea has avoided contacting the IAEA, but it has gradually softened its attitude during the process of negotiating the start of six-party talks. The North¡¯s acceptance to meet with the IAEA is testimony that Pyongyang is concretely moving toward freezing its nuclear program, the first step toward the complete abandonment of its nuclear weapons, the news agency said. The Kyodo News also said it appears the North directly met with the atomic agency in order to weaken American influence on the inspection process in case the resumption of inspections is agreed upon.
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