Timeline set for N. Korea nuclear closure

PYONGYANG, North Korea, June 28 (UPI) -- U.N. nuclear inspectors arrived at North Korea's atomic plant in Yongbyon Thursday and announced a July date to begin monitoring its closure.

International Atomic Energy Agency deputy Director General Olli Heinonen and three other inspectors traveled to the plant from Pyongyang to tour the 5-megawatt graphite-moderated reactor, a plutonium-producing radiochemical laboratory and a nuclear fuel rod fabrication plant, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Meanwhile, IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told Voice of America a special board meeting would be convened July 9 to establish procedures for verifying the shut-down Pyongyang agreed to in February in exchange for international fuel supplies.

Thursday's tour was the first by the IAEA since North Korea expelled inspectors from the country in December 2002.