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TOKYO - Pyongyang is unlikely to meet a mid-April deadline to shut down a nuclear reactor as the United States and North Korea remain divided over a transfer of the North's funds in Macau, a Chinese envoy was quoted as saying yesterday.
North and South Korea, the US, China, Japan and Russia jointly agreed on February 13 to give North Korea 60 days to shut its Yongbyon reactor, which makes plutonium that can be used for weapons, in return for energy aid and security pledges.
"I believe it's definite. It cannot be helped," the Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted Wu Dawei as saying in Beijing.
A delegation led by Daniel Glaser has been in Beijing for several days to discuss the implementation of a deal in which US$25 million ($35.20 million) was to be released into a North Korean account at the Bank of China.
North Korea has refused to take part in negotiations until the funds are transferred.
- REUTERS
