North Korea Ready to Heed Nuclear Deal, ElBaradei Says

North Korea wants to be free of sanctions before beginning the process of denuclearization, but remains committed to the agreement reached last month during the six-party talks, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei said following his trip to Pyongyang (see GSN, March 13).

“I think they were very clear that they are willing to implement the Feb. 13 agreement once the other parties implement their part,” he said today in Beijing.

Officials in Pyongyang specifically noted the frozen funds at Macau-based Banco Delta Asia, which the United States has accused of aiding illicit North Korean financial activities, ElBaradei said.

Among the first steps on the North Korean side of the agreement would be to close the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, according to Reuters.  “They said they are ready, willing and capable of doing that as soon as the financial sanctions are lifted,” ElBaradei said.

So far, however, there have been no signs of preparations to close the facility, said South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon.  “There is no indication of a change in the operational condition of Yongbyon.”

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, in Beijing for working group talks on the disarmament deal, said “the Macau issue will be resolved as we’ve promised.”

The Treasury Department is expected to prohibit business between U.S. banks and Banco Delta Asia, which could open the door for the Macau bank to unfreeze some of the North Korean funds, Reuters reported  (Chris Buckley, Reuters/Yahoo!News, March 14).

An announcement is expected this afternoon in Washington, Agence France-Presse reported (Agence France-Presse I/Spacewar.com, March 14).

However, the process could last weeks, and Pyongyang could be further aggravated by its limited access limited access to the global financial system, Reuters reported.  Both situations could add complications to efforts to realize the denuclearization agreement.

It will take time for North Korea to re-establish relations with the U.N. nuclear watchdog and to allow its inspectors back into the country for the first time since 2002, Western diplomats said (Buckley, Reuters).

ElBaradei was not able to meet with lead North Korean nuclear negotiator Kim Kye Gwan during his visit, the Associated Press reported.

Agency officials were told that Kim “was busy preparing for the six-party talks,” which are due to resume Monday in Beijing, IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.  ElBaradei met with several other officials, including the chairman of the North Korean atomic energy authority (Audra Ang, Associated Press/Red Orbit, March 14).

Hill today expressed no worries that the missed meeting might be a sign of trouble in carrying out the terms of the nuclear accord, Agence France-Presse reported.

“I don’t think so,” he said.  “Kim Kye Gwan was busy with six-party talks. … (North Korea) receiving Mr. ElBaradei is a good sign” (Agence France-Presse II/Yahoo!News, March 14).

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