A senior South Korean official said Thursday that North Korea plans to suspend operation of its nuclear facilities after it confirms the arrival of the first shipment of heavy fuel oil provided by Seoul in accordance with the six-party nuclear agreement.

The official said also that once Pyongyang declares the suspension of its Yongbyon nuclear facilities, the other six-party talks countries will consider the nuclear shutdown process to have begun and will resume six-way negotiations.

Considering the time required to deliver the first heavy fuel oil shipment, the six-party talks are not expected to resume until July 17th.

The official said that the vessel carrying the first batch of heavy oil is expected to leave South Korea on Saturday and arrive in the North next Monday.

South Korean Vice Unification Minister Shin Eon-sang said that the first ship carrying 62-hundred tons of heavy oil will leave Ulsan for the North Korean city of Seonbong.

Shin added that he expects no problems with the scheduled departure.