South Korean officials say North Korea has begun rebuilding its main nuclear weapons facility, violating an international agreement to permanently shut down the site.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry statement Wednesday, says officials involved in negotiations with the North, including the United States, are working closely to determine how to respond.
The statement also warned that the decision to rebuild the site could undermine efforts to end the North’s nuclear weapons program.
A Foreign Ministry source in Seoul tells the South Korean Yonhap news agency information about the work to rebuild the Yongbyon facility came from the United States. The source says Washington received a report on the activity from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
There has been no official confirmation yet from the U.S. government or the IAEA.
Just last week, Pyongyang warned that it would begin rebuilding its dismantled facilities. North Korea is upset with a decision by Washington to delay its removal from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
In June, Washington announced it might remove North Korea from the list as early as August 11. But the Bush administration said Pyongyang must first agree on a plan to verify information that it has provided about its nuclear activities.
At six-nation talks in July, a draft proposal for the inspection of North Korea’s nuclear facilities was put on the negotiating table. Pyongyang has yet to respond to it.
Source: voanews.com via politisite
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