The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El Baradei, met with US, Japanese and South Korean envoys in Beijing on Friday morning to discuss the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

 

"What we talked about today was the first phase and what needed to be done in the first phase," US chief negotiator Christopher Hill told reporters after the meeting, saying that they also had broader discussion about the second phase and beyond.

 

In the second phase, Hill said he hoped to see the achievement of full disablement of the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea.

 

"We talked a little about the status of the Yongbyon nuclear facility and what needed to be done to shut it down," Hill said, noting that the IAEA would deal with its shutdown.

 

Hill said El Baradei was focused on the first phase "because we need to get the IAEA there within 60 days."

 

According to the joint document issued during the fifth round of the six-party talks entitled "Initial Actions for the Implementation of the Joint Statement," North Korea will shut down and seal for the purpose of eventual abandonment the Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility and invite back IAEA personnel to conduct all necessary monitoring and verification as agreed between IAEA and North Korea.

 

Hill said he would meet with North Korean officials on Saturday, and the discussion would be based on the New York meeting. "I believe they will fulfill their commitment," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2007)