Inspectors to North Korea

North Korea said it would welcome back U.N. nuclear inspectors within a day of receiving frozen funds that have been an obstacle in negotiations seeking the North's disarmament.

North Korea ejected inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency in late 2002 at the start of the latest nuclear standoff. Following years of international negotiations beset by boycotts and delays, it conducted its first nuclear weapons test in October.

The North later agreed to return to negotiations and in February pledged to shut down its main nuclear reactor by a Saturday deadline in exchange for a U.S. promise to resolve a standoff over $25 million in North Korean funds frozen in a Macau bank. North Korea would also receive energy aid and political concessions for eventually dismantling its atomic programs.

If North Korea follows through with its promises, they would be the first moves the country has made to scale back its nuclear development since the start of the nuclear standoff.

Authorities in Macau said Wednesday that North Korea can withdraw the frozen money, and Pyongyang was expected to be notified of the decision later Wednesday or Thursday that the regime can access its funds.

The financial issue has brought the nuclear negotiations to a standstill as North Korea insisted it would not talk about disarmament measures until it gets its money back. Pyongyang has claimed that the freeze on its funds shows the United States' hostile intentions toward the isolated communist regime.