In a question-and-answer session with the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesman of the communist state's General Department of Atomic Energy said it will restart the 5-megawatt graphite moderated reactor that has been shut down under an agreement reached at the six-party talks in 2007.
The decision is in line with a double-deck policy line adopted at a Central Committee meeting of the Workers' Party, the KCNA said. The policy calls for economic growth and construction of nuclear arms.
The spokesman said: North Korea "decided to rearrange and change the usage purposes of existing nuclear facilities in accordance with the double-deck policy. Included in this measure is the refurbishment and restart of a 5-megawatt graphite moderated reactor shut down under an agreement reached at the six-party talks in October 2007, in addition to all nuclear facilities in Yongbyon including uranium enrichment plants."
The six-party talks to end North Korea's nuclear programs, which involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, have been dormant since late 2008.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com