Andhracafe.com- Vienna, Feb 17 (DPA) A high-ranking team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to travel to North Korea to discuss inspections of North Korean nuclear facilities, diplomats in Vienna said.

Diplomats close to the IAEA confirmed that an 'exploratory trip' was in preparation, but added that a time for the visit had not been fixed.

The expert team would most likely be headed by Deputy Director General Olli Heinonen, they said.

The team would discuss with North Korean officials about the details of the inspection of the country's nuclear facilities at Yongbyong.

North Korea threw out the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors in December 2002 and restarted its nuclear programme.

North Korea agreed during the last round of the six-party talks Tuesday to shut down its nuclear facilities at Yongbyong within 60 days and allow IAEA inspections in exchange for food, energy and other aid.