South Korea sent the first shipment of heavy oil to North Korea, as part of the six-party deal that is to bring about the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor.

Six-party talks between South Korea, North Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the US concluded with a February 13 agreement amongst the nations that North Korea would close down and seal its nuclear complex, in return for financial and other types of aid.

There was initial stalling, due to disputes regarding $25 million in funds that North Korea was promised, which were frozen in a Macau bank.

The denuclearization plan seems to be well on its way now. The International Atomic Energy Agency has had a delegation visit the complex at Yongbyon and discuss its closing with North Korean officials.

Now, the first shipload of oil, weighing 6,200, left the South Korean port of Ulsan at noon on Thursday, making its way to North Korea's port of Sunbong, where it is expected to arrive Saturday.

South Korea’s total shipments of oil will amount to 50,000 tons worth $23 million, pledged to North Korea under the agreement settled earlier this year. South Korea has also begun to ship rice to its neighbor.

IAEA Director general Mohamed ElBaradei said: “One month later, the shutdown of the five key nuclear-weapon units will be complete. And while the shutdown is being made, cameras to monitor the shutdown will be installed at these units,” as quoted by mbn cable TV.

In Seoul at a conference on international technology conference, ElBaradei said an IAEA team of experts would arrive Saturday at Yongbyon to begin monitoring the shutdown, expected to begin as soon as the first oil shipment reaches North Korea.