Activity seen near N.Korea nuclear reactor

Seoul, Apr 18: A South Korean intelligence official said today that increased activity had been spotted at North Korea's nuclear reactor, which local media has said could suggest it is being closed down.

The comment contradicted a US official who said earlier that Washington had not seen any sign North Korea had begun mothballing its Yongbyon nuclear plant -- source of weapons-grade plutonium -- as required under a February 13 disarmament agreement.

''We have seen unusual activity around the nuclear reactor so we are currently following and analysing this,'' said a National Intelligence Service official, who asked not to be named.

But he added the government did not conclude that this meant, as some local media reports had suggested, that Pyongyang was taking steps to finally shut down the reactor.

The Dong-A Ilbo daily earlier quoted intelligence sources as saying satellite photographs showed increased vehicle and personnel movements near the secretive state's reactor site.

A senior US official said Washington had seen no signs that North Korea, which carried out its first nuclear test last October, had begun to shut down the plant.

News reports in South Korean media are ''just not accurate ... We have seen no actions on the North Koreans' part that at this point leads us to believe they are fulfilling their part of the 60-day actions'', said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Under the Feb. 13 agreement reached by the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, Pyongyang had until last Saturday to commence the shutdown and invite back UN nuclear inspectors.

However, it has refused until it can access funds frozen for more than a year in a Macau bank.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said today that the last-minute haggling over when North Korea will start closing the nuclear plant would be resolved.

''There were some unpredictable technical problems that have delayed implementation. Both sides are making efforts and those problems are almost resolved,'' Roh told a news conference.

''The delay will not nullify the agreement,'' he said.

Reuters

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