WASHINGTON: The United States said Monday that North Korea should shut down its nuclear reactor within weeks after a breakthrough on a financial dispute that had stalled disarmament talks for months.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also praised North Korea for inviting inspectors from the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency for talks next week in Pyongyang.

"That is a good positive step," he said.

The visit, announced by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, is the first concrete step toward the North's nuclear disarmament.

The process to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program was stalled for months by a dispute over $25 million (â?¬18.6 million) in funds that were frozen in a Macau bank. North Korea had pledged in February to shut down the Yongbyon reactor, its main processing facility, but has refused to begin the process while the issue remained unresolved.

North Korean state media said Saturday that enough progress had been made on the issue that a "working-level delegation" from the IAEA had been invited to discuss procedures for the verification and monitoring of the reactor's shutdown. North Korea expelled the inspectors in December 2002.
U.S. expects North Korea to shut down reactor within weeks - International Herald Tribune

Well, that would make two out of the three from the "Axis of Evil".....

Have a good one!:s4:
Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on . U.S. expects North Korea to shut down reactor within weeks WASHINGTON: The United States said Monday that North Korea should shut down its nuclear reactor within weeks after a breakthrough on a financial dispute that had stalled disarmament talks for months. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also praised North Korea for inviting inspectors from the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency for talks next week in Pyongyang. "That is a good positive step," he said. The visit, announced by the Vienna-based International Atomic Rating: 5