North Korea restarts nuclear reactor

NORTH KOREA has restarted the reactor at the heart of its suspected drive for nuclear weapons, further raising the stakes in its diplomatic showdown with the United States, US officials said.

Activating the small research reactor at Yongbyon, the communist North's latest provocative step in a crisis that erupted last year, comes as the US prepares for war with Iraq and South Korea forms a new government.

"I think this is another example of the regime of North Korea taking escalatory actions in order to gain concessions," said Sean McCormack, the White House National Security Council spokesman.

"We seek a peaceful diplomatic solution, but all options remain on the table."

US officials said there was no sign that North Korea had reactivated its nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, which would be of even greater concern because it would take the North a step closer to adding to the two nuclear bombs it is believed to have.

Analysts in Seoul saw the move as yet another North Korean attempt to shake new President Roh Moo-hyun, who has been at odds with Washington over how to deal with the crisis.

The North upstaged Roh's inauguration on Tuesday by firing a short-range missile into international waters off its east coast.

In Beijing, China and Russia friends of North Korea and permanent members of the UN Security Council issued a joint statement promising to push for dialogue between the US and North Korea to resolve the crisis.

"China and Russia will try their best to push for dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States," they said.

Asked about the reactor, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said: "We believe the main thing at the moment is that each side keeps calm and exercises restraint and avoids taking action that will escalate the situation."

Reaction in Seoul to North Korea's latest move was muted, as Roh and his new prime minister finalised their cabinet.