First oil shipment under nuclear deal reaches NKorea

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

SEOUL (AFP) — A South Korean ship carrying the first fuel oil delivered under a nuclear disarmament deal reached North Korea on Saturday, a report said, ahead of the expected arrival of UN atomic inspectors.

The shipment arrived in the North's northeastern port of Sonbong, Kyodo news agency reported, quoting South Korean unification ministry officials.

The North said it would consider closing its Yongbyon reactor as soon as it received a first shipment of fuel oil -- compensation for the shutdown under the February pact -- from South Korea.

North Korea called Friday for military talks with the United States, as UN inspectors prepared to return to Pyongyang to supervise the shutdown of its nuclear programme.

But with inspectors set to return Saturday...