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North Korea 'rebuilding nuclear reactor'

03/09/2008

North Korea has begun rebuilding of a symbolic nuclear reactor, according to the south.

The move represents a serious violation of a six-party agreement that looked to have set Pyongyang on a path to normal ties with the outside world.

South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed earlier reports that North Korea had started the process to restart the Yongbyon reactor, which was disabled last November.

"They've been threatening this move for some time," an unnamed official was quoted as saying by Fox News.

The official added that he thought the north's move was a 'symbolic expression of anger'.

Last month the reclusive Communist state warned it could resume its nuclear programme unless Washington removed it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

North Korea agreed to end its nuclear activities in return for fuel aid last year, with reactors going offline from November 2007.

But the country's official Korean Central News Agency said in a statement late last month: "We decided to immediately halt disablement work that had been underway in accordance with the October 3rd agreement."