North Korea 'willing to shut down nuclear reactor'

North Korea has told the United States it could shut down a key nuclear reactor and accept UN inspections if certain conditions are met, a news report said today.

The North has said it is willing to halt and close the 5-megawatt reactor in its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon and accept inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, the Hankook Ilbo reported from Washington, citing an unidentified State Department official.