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Thursday, 26 December, 2002, 23:40 GMT
N Korea nuclear moves alarm UN
![]() Tensions between the two Koreas are rising
The UN nuclear watchdog says North Korea has moved 1,000 nuclear fuel rods to a reactor that could produce weapons-grade plutonium - a situation it describes as "very worrying".
There is mounting international concern that the Yongbyon reactor, sealed up for eight years under a deal with the US, could be restarted - the IAEA says it could be working within two months.
In protest at Pyongyang's nuclear moves, Australia has halted plans to open an embassy in North Korea, saying it would not be appropriate to build up diplomatic relations now. Washington said that moves to restart the facilities "would compound North Korea's violations of its international commitments". "We call on North Korea to immediately allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to replace or restore the seals and cameras that the North has damaged" at the Yongbyon reactor, US State Department spokeswoman Barbara Greenberg said on Thursday.
Earlier, South Korea said more diplomatic efforts were needed to avert a crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme. President Kim Dae-jung told his National Security Council that Seoul must work with the US and Japan to stop the situation deteriorating. Russia has also renewed its calls on North Korea to co-operate with IAEA inspectors who were brought in to ensure it did not conceal weapons-grade plutonium when the reactors were mothballed. Earlier this month Pyongyang said it was re-activating its nuclear programme and dismantled the IAEA's monitoring equipment at Yongbyon. North Korea says the Yongbyon reactor will help meet its electricity needs. The reactor was closed down as part of an American-led fuel aid deal which broke down this year when the US suspended shipments in protest at moves by the North to revive its nuclear programme.
"We're concerned about the reactor but ultimately it is the reprocessing facility that is of the highest concern to us," he said. He added that there was no sign of the North Koreans trying to re-start the reprocessing plant. Mr Gwozdecky said that although the North Koreans had disabled surveillance equipment there, two IAEA inspectors on the ground were still monitoring the situation.
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26 Dec 02 | Media reports
24 Dec 02 | Asia-Pacific
22 Dec 02 | Asia-Pacific
16 Dec 02 | Asia-Pacific
15 Dec 02 | Asia-Pacific
12 Dec 02 | Asia-Pacific
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