Top U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill says North Korea is prepared to close its Yongbyon nuclear reactor. Mr Hill has just returned from a visit to Pyongyang, which he's judged a success.
He said that both Washington and Pyongyang have re-affirmed their commitment to a February accord aimed at North Korea's denuclearisation. They are also ready for an early meeting of the six-party nuclear envoys. Progress has been delayed by a row over frozen North Korean funds. The U.S. says the money has already been transferred from a Macau bank to North Korea, but Pyongyang has not yet confirmed this.