WASHINGTON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States prefers to resume six-party talks designed to settle nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) shuts down its key reactor under UN supervision, the State Department said Monday.

    "I think ideally what everybody would like to see is an envoys' level meeting built on some already increased momentum," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

    The six-party talks involves the United States, China, the DPRK, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

    Pyongyang said Friday it would suspend the operation of its nuclear facilities as soon as the aid it has been promised arrived.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday gave the go ahead for inspectors to go to the DPRK to verify the promised shutdown of its nuclear facilities.

    The mission will begin immediately after Pyongyang receives the first batch of fuel oil, anticipated later this week.

    South Korea has promised to send the first shipment of a total of 50,000 tons of fuel oil on Thursday. ¡¡

Report: U.S. studies peace treaty with DPRK

    WASHINGTON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government has begun studying possible ways to formally end more than 50 years of Cold War hostilities between Washington and Pyongyang, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Full story