South Korea has begun loading its first shipment of heavy fuel oil to North Korea in accordance with the February 13th six-party nuclear agreement.

The six parties agreed that 50-thousand tons of heavy fuel oil would be provided to the North once it takes initial steps to shut down its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.

At a dock in Ulsan belonging to SK Energy, the Gu Hanchang tanker is expected to be loaded with 62-hundred tons of heavy fuel oil by noon Thursday. Following a simple ceremony, it will head out for the North Korean port of Seonbong in North Hamgyeong Province.

The ship’s captain said the Gu Hanchang would sail about 36 hours along the eastern coast and arrive at its destination on Saturday barring any unusual weather changes.