North Korea will demolish the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear facility on Friday.

China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency forecast the demolition would take place between four and five in the afternoon, Korean time.

A senior official at the South Korean Foreign Ministry described the destruction of the key facility at the Yongbyon reactor complex as a significant event, observing that it would visibly demonstrate Pyongyang’s willingness to denuclearize.

Five broadcasters, one from each of North Korea's dialogue partners in the six-party nuclear talks, have been invited to cover the event. CNN, chosen as the broadcaster for the United States, is scheduled to air the blast live.

Meanwhile, Sung Kim, the State Department's point man on Korean affairs, traveled to the North through the truce village of Panmunjeom on Thursday to witness the planned demolition.