2nd group of inspectors arrive in North Korea

Another group of inspectors from the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog has arrived in North Korea to observe the second phase of Pyongyang’s obligation to wrap up its controversial nuclear program, the Xinhua news agency reported Saturday.

The first group of the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, which arrived in Pyongyang in mid-July, confirmed last week that North Korea had closed all the facilities at Yongbyon that were used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

The move has essentially finalized the first phase of the disarmament deal agreed in Beijing on Feb. 13, when Pyongyang was promised economic and diplomatic incentives in exchange for disabling its nuclear facilities.

The second phase will include North Korea providing information on all its nuclear programs, including its uranium enrichment, and shutting down all remaining nuclear facilities.