North Korea Shuts Down a Nuclear Reactor

Score one for diplomacy:  North Korea is toeing the line and following the dictates of a deal struck with the U.N. in February to shut down one of its nuclear reactors in exchange for heavy fuel oil, according to the BBC.

BBC:

On Friday, the chief US nuclear envoy, Christopher Hill, emphasised that the closing of the Yongbyon reactor was only the first step though.

Mr Hill said he expected a full list of the North’s nuclear facilities within months—as agreed in the February deal.

North Korea tested an atomic bomb for the first time last year, and has repeatedly said it needs nuclear weapons to fend off a US attack.

Read more

AP Photo / Yonhap

Powering down:  File photo shows used nuclear fuel rods in a cooling pond at North Korea’s Yongbyon facility.