Russia welcomes shutting of North Korean reactor

Moscow, July 15 (UNI) Welcoming the shutting of North Korea's Yongbyon reactor as a ''positive factor,'' Russia today said it expected International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to issue an official statement on the closure of the reactor.

''We see the shutdown of the Yongbyon reactor as a positive factor in the situation surrounding the North Korean problem,'' Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said.

''Steps of this kind help settle the problem of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in the framework of the six-party talks more effectively,'' Mr Kamynin said.

China also hailed the shutdown of Yongbyon reactor, Interfax cited sources close to the Chinese government as saying today.

''In strict line with the agreement on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang has fulfilled its obligations at the initial stage and shut down the Yongbyon reactor under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency,'' they said, adding ''We welcome this.'' ''But it is important now to further capitalise on the positive momentum in the six-party talks,'' the source stressed.

The six-party talks on July 18 and 19 ''will be very important,'' he pointed out.

The meeting is expected to discuss further steps to turn the Korean Peninsula into a nuclear-free zone.

UN inspectors who arrived in Pyongyang yesterday will verify the shutdown by North Korea of its nuclear reactor, the top US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill said today.

Mr Hill who is visting Japan, made this statement a day after North Korea told the United States that it had shut down its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon as part of a disarmament deal.

UNI