Six-party working group on energy to meet the week of March 12

South Korea plans to hold the first meeting of a six-nation working group on energy and economic assistance for North Korea during the week of March 12, the country's top nuclear negotiator said Friday.

"We plan to arrange the meeting after reviewing (where and when the meetings of) the other working groups are held, but we are working to hold the meeting in the week of March 12," Chun Yung-woo said in a press conference for foreign news correspondents here. He said the venue for the energy working group meeting has yet to be chosen.

The working group is one of five to be created as a result of an agreement reached in Beijing last Tuesday, in which North Korea agreed to shut down and seal its nuclear facilities at the Yongbyon complex in return for an equivalent of 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil in aid.

"We first have to hear what items North Korea wishes to receive and what the other four nations wish to provide, and that will be the first assignment of the working group on energy," Chun said.

He also said South Korea "as chair of the working group on energy and economic assistance" is ready to make the first shipments of the promised aid, but added the assistance "will be delivered when North Korea shuts down its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon."

The nuclear agreement reached between the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China also entitles North Korea to an additional 950,000 tons of heavy fuel oil or other assistance of the equivalent value if the communist nation "disables" the Yongbyon facilities and submits a complete list of all its nuclear activities and programs.

Last week's agreement marked the first significant progress in the nuclear talks since September 2005 when North Korea agreed in principle to give up its nuclear ambition in return for aid and security guarantees.

Chun said he was not sure whether Pyongyang has made a strategic decision to abandon its nuclear ambition, but said it appears to be "determined" take the initial steps of denuclearizing.

"All I can say at this point is they are determined to go all the way to disablement in the initial stage ... I think they made a decision to give up at least existing nuclear programs," he said.

He, however, noted that the new agreement only marks the beginning of a long process.

"The nuclear issue has yet to be resolved and we have a long journey ahead before the complete dismantlement of all nuclear weapons and nuclear programs and the road there cannot be but rough," Chun said.

Seoul, Feb. 23 (Yonhap News)