U.S. Envoy Believes Pyongyang Prepared To Shut Down Reactor

U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill (left) and his South Korean counterpart, Chun Yung-woo, at a news conference today in Seoul (epa) June 22, 2007 -- U.S. chief nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill says he had "good talks" with North Korean officials in Pyongyang and believes they are prepared to promptly shut down the country's Yongbyon nuclear reactor.

Hill made his comments today at a news conference in Seoul after an overnight visit to Pyongyang -- the first by a senior U.S. diplomat to the North Korean capital in nearly five years.

Hill said that during the talks, both the United States and North Korea reaffirmed their commitment to a February accord aimed at North Korea's denuclearization.

"The talks were very detailed, very substantive, and I believe they were also very useful and positive," Hill said.

Hill met with North Korea's foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator in talks on implementing a six-country accord reached in February. The six-country talks are expected to resume in early July.

Under the February deal, North Korea is supposed to end its nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid.

The deal includes the closure of Yongbyon, which U.S. intelligence believes has provided enough plutonium to build at least eight nuclear weapons.

(compiled from agency reports)