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South Korea will start shipping 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil promised to North Korea within two weeks to reward the Stalinist country for shutting down and sealing its nuclear facilities. South Korea will start shipping heavy fuel oil before Jul. 14 and complete shipments in late July or early August. The two Koreas reached the agreement in working-level talks in Kaesong on Friday and Saturday, the Unification Ministry said. With heavy oil costing about US$400 per ton, the total cost will exceed W20 billion (US$1=W938).
Meanwhile, an inspection team from the International Atomic Energy Agency that will seal North Korea's nuclear facilities is to arrive in the North around Jul. 12 or 14. South Korea apparently believes that North Korea will seal its nuclear facilities in time for the arrival of both the IAEA inspectors and the heavy fuel oil. Seoul therefore wants the six-nation nuclear talks to resume in the third week of July, right after the IAEA inspectors visit to the North.
On leaving Beijing after returning from the North on Sunday, the head of the IAEA delegation Olli Heinonen said, "We have moved to an understanding on how to do ratification and monitoring on the Yongbyon facilities when they will be shut down. We had fruitful discussions and visits to the Yongbyon site." The results of the visit will be reported to an IAEA special commission meeting on July 9, which then makes a final decision, he added.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will reportedly visit North Korea on Monday to discuss when to resume the six-party talks and how to implement the Feb. 13 denuclearization deal. Yang is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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