IAEA ready to verify North Korea's denuclearization
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is ready to verify North Korea's denuclearization if the countries involved reach an agreement.
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International reporters observe the destruction site of the Punggye-ri test site on May 24. Photo:Reuters. |
During a meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in Vienna, Austria on May 25, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said the agency is closely monitoring the status of North Korea's nuclear program through satellite images, and is preparing to verify Pyongyang's denuclearization, according toYonhap.
The head of the IAEA has denied interfering in international politics but pledged to take responsibility for denuclearizing North Korea. The IAEA also set up a separate team on North Korea in August last year.
In response, the South Korean Prime Minister said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would understand the IAEA verification process because the Panmunjom Declaration in April called for complete denuclearization. "The question is how the relevant parties can reach a quick and concrete agreement," Mr. Lee said.
On the same day, Prime Minister Lee met with Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Breaking Treaty Organization (CTBTO). He appreciated the CTBTO's efforts in monitoring global nuclear testing and maintaining lasting peace in the world.
The leaders of the IAEA and CTBTO both expressed support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and called for the rapid establishment of a "political agreement" among relevant countries to resolve this issue.
Pyongyang announced on May 25 that it had completed the destruction of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, calling it "vivid proof" of the North Korean government's peace-loving stance.
Punggye-ri is believed to be North Korea's only nuclear test site, where all six of Pyongyang's nuclear tests have taken place, including its most powerful test in September last year.
