New IAEA report outlines plans for monitoring nuclear facility in DPR Korea

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which recently sent a team of experts to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has released a report on its future activities in the country, which has been under United Nations sanctions since last year when it claimed to have conducted a nuclear test.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei’s report, circulated Monday, is restricted, but the Agency said in a news release that it “outlines agreed arrangements for monitoring and verification by the IAEA of the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facility and the reactor under construction in Taechon, that were reached between the IAEA team and the DPRK during their visit last week.”

The team, led by Olli Heinonen, Deputy Director General for Safeguards, was in the country from 26 to 29 June.

DPRK ordered IAEA inspectors out at the end of 2003 and formally withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) – including the pact’s inspections and other safeguards against fuel diversion from energy generation to weapons production.

Mr. ElBaradei visited DRPK in March to discuss plans for the country to get rid of nuclear weapons in what he called “the first step in a long process” toward normalizing relations with the country.

IAEA’s 35-member Board will consider the report at its next meeting on 9 July in Vienna, according to the news release.