VIENNA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The IAEA inspectors were
asked to leave the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), according to a
statement issued here by IAEA spokesperson Marc Vidricaire on Tuesday.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has today
informed IAEA inspectors in the Yongbyon facility that it is immediately ceasing
all cooperation with the IAEA," the statement said.
"It has requested the removal of all containment and surveillance equipment, following which, IAEA inspectors will no longer be provided access to the facility. The inspectors have also been asked to leave the DPRK at the earliest possible time."
A TV-grab from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Television on April 7 shows the inside of the control room where the three-stage rocket, is screened from a launch site in an undisclosed location in DPRK. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The DPRK informed the IAEA "that it has decided to
reactivate all facilities and go ahead with the reprocessing of spent fuel,"
according to the statement.
The DPRK's move came one day after the UN Security
Council adopted a presidential statement on the country's recent rocket launch,
saying it was "in contravention of Security Council resolution 1718" and
demanding the country "not conduct any further launch."
The DPRK said earlier on Tuesday that it will
withdraw from the six party talks which aims at denuclearizing the impoverished
country.
PYONGYANG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Tuesday it will withdraw from the six-party
talks and restore the nuclear facilities that have been under disablement
process.
The DPRK will not fulfill any agreement reached in the
nuclear talks any more, a spokesman from the DPRK foreign ministry said ina
statement, in response to a U.N. Security Council presidential statement on its
rocket launch. Full story
PYONGYANG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Kim Yong Nam, top
legislator of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), warned on
Tuesday that his country would mete out "unmerciful punishment" if the United
States and South Korea "start a war."
Kim was speaking at a meeting held to commemorate the 97th
anniversary of the birth of late president Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, according
to the official Korean Central News Agency. Full story
SEOUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government on
Tuesday expressed regret over the DPRK's declaration of not returning to the
six-party talks.
"The South Korean government is deeply concerned that the
DPRK earlier in the day denunciated the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s
presidential statement on the nation's rocket launch," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Moon Tae-young said in an official statement. Full story
WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on
Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s decision to
withdraw from the six-party talks is a "serious step in the wrong direction."
"North Korea's announced threat to withdraw from the
six-party talks and restart its nuclear program is a serious step in the wrong
direction," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. Full story
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