Reports from South Korea say North Korea may be preparing to close its nuclear reactor at the center of a stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament process. South Korean media said Tuesday that U.S. satellite images showed increased activity around the Yongbyon reactor, with unusual movement of people and vehicles.

A special U.S. envoy to North Korea says he believes the communist nation will honor an agreement to shut down a nuclear reactor, despite the expiration of a key deadline Saturday. VOA's Michael Bowman reports, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson made the comment on U.S. television early Sunday.

South Korea may delay resuming rice aid to North Korea after Pyongyang missed a deadline to start shutting its nuclear reactor under a disarmament deal, a local daily reported today.

North Korea has until April 14 to begin dismantling its nuclear-weapons program. Pyongyang agreed to take the first step -- shutting down the nuclear reactor at Yongbyon -- under a deal it reached two months ago with the other members in the so-called six-party talks: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.

North Korea says it will miss an April 14 deadline to shut down its main nuclear reactor, but could start the process within 30 days. The U.S. television network NBC quotes Pyongyang's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye-Gwan, as making the comments to a visiting U.S. team led by Bill Richardson, the governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico.

The head of a U.S. delegation in North Korea says Pyongyang has agreed to turn over the remains of six U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War more than 50 years ago. New Mexico state governor Bill Richardson released a statement Monday noting the agreement after meeting with General Ri Chan Bok - North Korea's commanding general at the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas.

U.S. officials say Macau authorities are ready to release $25 million from North Korean bank accounts. Pyongyang has refused to halt its nuclear programs until it receives the money. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.

The main U.S. nuclear envoy said Tuesday that the pending release of North Korea's money frozen at a Macau bank should pave the way for Pyongyang to meet its obligations under a disarmament agreement.

Talks on releasing North Korea's funds that have held up international efforts to disarm Pyongyang have ended in China's capital with no resolution.

A planned six-nation meeting in Beijing on North Korea's nuclear program was postponed as Pyongyang waits for the return of $25 million in assets.

Talks on North Korea's nuclear programs are at a standstill in Beijing, with North Korean negotiators refusing to attend a meeting of the heads of delegation. Diplomats say the North Koreans are demanding they first get back money that was frozen in a Macau bank. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing.