By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Wednesday said patience is necessary to help persuade North Korea to scrap its nuclear reactors.
IAEA Director General ElBaradei made the remark in a meeting with President Roh Moo-hyun at Cheong Wa Dae.
ElBaradei also said he hopes that North Korea will get rid of its nuclear arms after rejoining the non-proliferation treaty (NPT). He said he hoped the current hopeful situation on the Korean Peninsula to be linked to Pyongyang applying to rejoin the NPT.
He pointed out that ``patience'' is important, forecasting that the procedures will be very complicated and difficult. He also said a communication and engagement policy is the key to resolve the issue.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Cheon Ho-seon quoted President Roh as saying that he believes the IAEA inspectors will deliver good news to South Koreans.
It will be the first mission by United Nations nuclear watchdog monitors since North Korea expelled the agency's inspectors in 2002 after the United States presented evidence it said pointed to a covert uranium enrichment program.
Their initial mission is expected to take about two weeks, while a smaller IAEA team plans to remain on site while North Korea and the five other six-party talks countries _ the United States, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea _ negotiate further steps towards disarmament.
The IAEA inspectors will arrive in Pyongyang Saturday, the director general of IAEA said Wednesday.
Upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, ElBaradei said that the inspectors would visit North Korea for an inspection of the North's main nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
Whether North Korea will rejoin the NPT is drawing worldwide interest, ElBaradei said he hoped this was the case.
ElBaradei is visiting Korea to participate in a conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of cooperation between South Korea and the IAEA. The conference will be held at the Grand InterContinental Hotel in southern Seoul Thursday.
Following its ejection of inspectors in 2002, North Korea defected from the NPT. In 2005, Pyongyang declared it had nuclear arms, and unnerved the world with a test-detonation a year later.