North Korea to reactivate nuclear plant within a week

NORTH KOREA barred UN nuclear inspectors from its main nuclear reactor yesterday and within a week plans to reactivate the plant that once provided the plutonium for its atomic test explosion, the chief UN nuclear inspector said.

North Korea ordered the removal of the UN seals on enrichment-related equipment and surveillance equipment from the Yongbyon reactor, a sign it is making good on threats to restart a nuclear programme that allowed it to conduct a test explosion two years ago.

But Pyongyang’s moves could be motivated by strategy as well. It could use the year it would take to restart the state’s sole reprocessing plant to wrest further concessions from the US and other nations seeking to strip it of its atomic program.