PYONGYANG, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Friday concluded talks on Yongbyon nuclear facilities with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), reaching a consensus on the verification procedure of the reactor shutdown.

    "We have now moved to an understanding on how to do ratification and monitoring on Yongbyon facilities when they will be shutdown," Olli Heinonen, head of the delegation and IAEA deputy director general, told Xinhua.

    But Heinonen refused to confirm whether any agreement had been signed between the IAEA and the DPRK. "We will report (the results of the discussions) to our board of governors, and you know, that's all we can say at this point in time," he said.

    The IAEA delegation left Pyongyang for Yongbyon Thursday morning. During the two-day visit, the team has seen a series of DPRK nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.

    "We spent a full day from morning to evening and even this morning (visiting facilities)," said Heinonen.

    He said the delegation had concluded its monitoring and ratification activities and will take a week to report to the IAEA board of governors.

    When asked if DPRK nuclear facilities could be shut down in mid-July, Heinonen said this issue should be decided by the six-party talks. "You have to ask them what is the time schedule, when they do it, we will be ready," he said.

    While refusing to reveal the exact time of the IAEA inspection team's visit to the DPRK, the chief nuclear inspector said, "We will come when they (DPRK) are ready."

    The IAEA delegation arrived here Tuesday at the invitation of the DPRK government, after the dispute between the United States and the DPRK over frozen funds was resolved Monday. The team is expected to leave Pyongyang for Beijing Saturday morning.

    This is the U.N. watchdog's first visit to the DPRK since late 2002, when the country expelled IAEA nuclear inspectors and later withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pyongyang announced its first nuclear test last year.

    At the six-party talks in February, involving China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the DPRK and the United States, Pyongyang pledged to shut down the Yongbyon reactor within 60 days in exchange for 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid.

    However, the denuclearization process and negotiations were held up as a result of wrangling over the 25 million U.S. dollars frozen in the Banco Delta Asia in Macao.

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