North Korea shuts down Yongbyon reactor

United Nations nuclear inspectors have confirmed the closure of North Korea's main nuclear recator, Yongbyon.

The closure is part of a deal agreed in six-party talks involving North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China, and the US. In return for shutting down the Yongbyon reactor North Korea will be given 50,000 tons of fuel aid along with another 950,000 tons of fuel for shutting down all of its nuclear facilites.

The first shipment of fuel aid arrived in North Korea last week and on Monday around 7,500 tons of fuel were sent off to Nampo in the West of North Korea.

The six-party talks were started in Februrary of this year amid fears after North Korea test fired a nuclear missile that was rumored to be capable of reaching American soil. The talks broke down when North Korea asked that $25 million be released from a Macau bank which were frozen by the U.S. Treasury Department after rumors of laundering and counterfeiting.