NEW YORK, Nov. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan, South Korea, the United States and the European Union (EU) postponed a decision Tuesday on whether to suspend or abandon a light-water nuclear plant in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    "The Executive Board (of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, or KEDO) discussed the future of the LWR(light-water reactors) project, including an approach to the question of suspension," said a statement issued after a meeting of the four parties.

    "The Executive Board decided to refer this to capitals. The Executive Board agreed to announce a decision on the future of the LWR project no later than November 21, 2003," it said.

    The KEDO board, composed of Japan, South Korea, the United States and the EU, started a meeting here Monday.

    The United States has reportedly sought to suspend the LWR project, which is still under construction in line with a 1994 agreement signed between Washington and the DPRK.

    Washington accused the DPRK of breaking the agreement, under which Pyongyang would freeze its nuclear program in exchange for the supply of fuel and the building of two light-water nuclear reactors by the KEDO. The accusations were rejected by the DPRK.

    Observers here say that the other three parties were reluctant to accept the US proposal for fear of angering the DPRK. Enditem