The UN nuclear agency said Monday that it is ready to inspect the nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), if it is authorized to play an essential role in the issue after a political deal is reached.
Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told reporters that his team is ready to carry out the nuclear inspection in the DPRK, but the inspection should be under a political agreement among states concerned.
The DPRK dismantled the Punggye Ri nuclear test site last month under coverage of foreign journalists. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un are expected to meet on June 12 in Singapore.
If a possible political agreement could be reached, IAEA might be authorized to get access to the DPRK's nuclear site to carry out verification task. Amano said his team could travel to the DPRK within weeks after IAEA is authorized to play the role.
The DPRK claimed it successfully carried out four nuclear weapon tests in the past 10 years or so.
The IAEA currently has no nuclear inspector in the DPRK, which withdrew its membership of the IAEA in 1994. Therefore, the agency could only get the information of the DPRK's nuclear plan from satellites or by other means.
