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Christopher Hill
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U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill meets his North Korean counterpart Wednesday in China for final discussions before Pyongyang begins the process of disabling its nuclear program this week.
Speaking with reporters before his meeting with Kim Kye Kwan in Beijing, Assistant Secretary of State Hill said the disarmament process is in good shape overall.
A team of U.S. experts is scheduled to travel to Pyongyang on Thursday and begin the process of disabling the North's main nuclear facilities.
North Korea has agreed to disable its Yongbyon nuclear complex and declare all of its programs before the end of this year.
Hill will also meet with Chinese and Russian officials while he is in Beijing.
The disabling of the North's Yongbyon complex is part of a six-nation agreement in which Pyongyang agreed to give up its nuclear program in return for millions of dollars in energy and aid.
North Korea has agreed to accept half of the economic aid it has been promised in the form of equipment and material for repairing its outdated infrastructure, such as its power plants.
Pyongyang has been negotiating details of the deal in six-party talks with the U.S., China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
VOA News
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