North Korea demands reactors 'as soon as possible'

The US should provide North Korea with light-water nuclear reactors as soon as possible to build confidence in nuclear disarmament talks, North Korea’s deputy foreign minister told the UN General Assembly today.

Choe Su Hon repeated that North Korea’s ultimate goal is the full denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula “at any cost,” but only after relations are normalised with the US.

“What is most essential at this stage is for the United States to provide light-water reactors to the DPRK as soon as possible as evidence proving the former’s substantial recognition of the latter’s right to peaceful nuclear activities,” he said.

Choe’s speech came after the latest six-party nuclear talks produced a landmark accord on Monday in which North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for economic aid, security assurances and improved ties with the US.

But North Korea since has fallen back on some of its hard-line rhetoric, saying on Tuesday it will not dismantle its nuclear programme unless Washington gives it civilian nuclear reactors to generate power. Choe’s comments confirmed that tougher stance, which Washington has rejected.