ElBaradei seeks stronger IAEA mandate in North Korea, say diplomats

Jul 25, 2008, 10:59 GMT

Vienna - UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohammed ElBaradei wants the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to play more than an advisory role in verifying North Korea's nuclear programme, diplomats close to the agency said Friday.

In late June, Pyonyang handed over a declaration of its nuclear programme and materials to be verified by the six parties involved in the denuclearization of North Korea.

On July 12, the United States, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan agreed with North Korea to verification measures such as visits to facilities and interviews with North Korean specialists, with details still needing to be worked out.

'When necessary, the verification mechanism can welcome the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide consultancy and assistance for relevant verification,' the communique after the July 12 meeting said.

US negotiator Christopher Hill was in Vienna on Friday to brief IAEA Director General ElBaradei about the latest developments regarding North Korea, including the IAEA's possible mandate.

'We have to figure out what that role is,' Hill told reporters after his meeting.

ElBaradei considers the IAEA to be the competent authority for verification and wants either a full participation by agency inspectors or no involvement at all, one diplomat said.

'ElBaradei is unhappy about the advisory role,' he said.

Another diplomat said ElBaradei was seeking a more clearly defined role in checking that North Korea's statements about its nuclear programme are correct.

'The IAEA has a lot of experience in this regard and we would all look forward to draw on this experience,' Hill said. The agency should be 'involved in a significant way,' he said.

In the past months, specialists from North Korea and the United States have disabled the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon. IAEA inspectors are continuously present in North Korea's nuclear centre, performing only an monitoring role.

Diplomats and experts say Pyonyang is not keen on working directly with the IAEA, as it is an impartial agency standing outside the political six-party deal under which North Korea agreed to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for energy and economic aid.

In the final phase of the agreement, North Korea would get rid of its nuclear weapons.

'We have a long way to go,' Hill said. 'We don't have an agreement on how to turn over weapons, so obviously the weapons stage is one that we want to get to very soon,' he added.