North Korea 'restoring' reactor, says official

19 September 2008

[Associated Press, 19 September] North Korea is preparing to restore its Yongbyon nuclear reactor because the USA has failed to fulfill its part of an international disarmament deal by removing the country from a terrorism blacklist, a Pyongyang official has said. Under a 2007 agreement - involving North and South Korea, the USA, China, Russia and Japan - North Korea agreed to disable its nuclear program in exchange for diplomatic concessions and energy aid. North Korea began dismantling the Yongbyon complex in 2007 and the process was 90% complete, with eight of the 11 key steps carried out "perfectly and flawlessly," foreign ministry deputy director general Hyun said. The plant's cooling tower was even demolished in a TV spectacular. Hyun said, "We are making thorough preparations for restoration." North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, said that the country no longer wanted to be taken off the blacklist. North Korea "will go its own way," it added. Some observers say North Korea is simply moving old components around to send a message to Washington and it is thought impossible to restart Yongbyon with no cooling tower.