U.S. envoy Christopher Hill wrapped up a surprise trip to North Korea on Friday, saying Pyongyang is prepared to promptly close down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor. Hill, an assistant secretary of state, arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday in the highest-level U.S. visit to the North Korean capital in more than four years. He is chief envoy to six-party talks involving North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the U.S., aimed at securing North Korea's denuclearization in exchange for economic and energy aid for the impoverished state. "We had a good discussion about the way forward at the six-party talks," Hill said in footage shot by APTN in Pyongyang before his departure. Hill avoided providing specifics, but said, "We discussed all aspects of the six-party process. And all aspects means all aspects." He said he held meetings with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, as well as the country's foreign minister, Pak Ui Chun. Hill was seen off at the airport by Ri Gun, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau and as well as deputy nuclear negotiator.
