N. Korea Suspends Nuclear Shutdown

Country threatens to restore weapons plant to working order
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 26, 2008 6:31 AM CDT
N. Korea Suspends Nuclear Shutdown
This Feb. 14, 2008 file photo released by U.S. researchers who visited North Korea shows the cooling tower of a 5 Megawatt nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon Nuclear Center in North Korea.    (AP Photo/S. S. Hecker, HO, File)

North Korea has halted the disablement of its nuclear facilities and says it may restore a reactor that can make material for atomic weapons, Reuters reports. Analysts say the move, which follows a visit to arch-enemy South Korea by pseudo-ally and Chinese President Hu Jintao, appears to be an effort by North Korea to maintain leverage to get the US to remove it from its terror blacklist.

"We have decided to immediately suspend disabling our nuclear facilities," a foreign ministry official said. "This measure has been effective on August 14 and related parties have been notified of it."
(More North Korea stories.)

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