WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The reactor seals are back on and surveillance equipment reinstalled at North Korea's nuclear facility in Yongbyon, the U.S. State Department said Friday.
In addition, equipment that had been removed had been returned and rods had been removed from the reactor, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said during a news briefing.
So on the reactor, they have actually gone beyond where they were prior to their reversing the disablement steps," he said. "The information I have is that 60 percent of the reactor rods have been removed. So 60 percent of the reactor rods have been removed."
Concerning the reprocessing and fuel fabrication facilities, McCormack said North Koreans haven't reached the baseline when they halted the denuclearization process.
The next step is the scheduling and convening of a delegation meeting, he said.
"The Chinese, as chair of the six-party process, have not yet announced a date for that," McCormack said. "(We) expect that that will ... happen in the coming period of time."
McCormack said the United States expected the verification agreement reached by the United States, acting on behalf of other interested parties, and North Korea process would be affirmed by other members of the six-party group.
