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21:13 GMT
VIENNA, June 4 (KUNA) -- Director General of the UN nuclear watchdog Yukiya
Amano said Monday North Korea invited an IAEA delegation to visiti Pyonyang to
discuss nuclear-related matters.
Addressing a meeting of the Board of Governors, Amano said he received on
March 16 a letter from North Korea inviting a delegation from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit North Korea to discuss
"technical issues with regard to the monitoring of a moratorium on uranium
enrichment activities at Yongbyon."
This invitation was in line with the application of safeguards in North
Korea.
Amano, replying to North Korea on March 30, said he said IAEA was ready to
follow up on the invitation in a "constructive spirit."
"I believe the Agency has an essential role to play in verifying the DPRK's
nuclear programme," he said.
But, he added, the IAEA has not been able to implement any safeguards
measures in North Korea for more than three years, so "our knowledge of the
current status of the country's nuclear programme is limited.
"I again call upon the DPRK to fully comply with its obligations under
relevant Security Council resolutions, to come into full compliance with the
NPT and to cooperate promptly and fully with the Agency," said Amano. (end)
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