BEIJING, May 13 -- Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday played down North Korea's claims that it had taken steps that could allow it to harvest more plutonium for atomic bombs.

    Koizumi noted that North Korea has made such statements before to bolster its negotiating position.

    "North Korea has been making gamesmanship sort of remarks. We must work to show that North Korea will benefit the most from returning quickly to the six-nation talks and disposing of its nuclear program," said Koizumi. 

    Pyongyang on Wednesday said it had removed 8,000 fuel rods from the reactor at its main nuclear complex at Yongbyon, north of the capital.

    If reprocessed, the rods could yield enough plutonium for a couple of nuclear bombs, adding to the North's supply that is already believed to be enough to build a half-dozen bombs.

    The six perty talks, which include China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas, last met in June.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)