North Korea removes UN seals from Yongbyon complex
Updated
![Pyongyang plans to introduce nuclear material to the reprocessing plant in a week's time. [AFP]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/nkorea_yongbyon_rtr_140506.jpg?<BR> "Pyongyang plans to introduce nuclear material to the reprocessing plant in a week's time. [AFP]")
Pyongyang plans to introduce nuclear material to the reprocessing plant in a week's time. [AFP]
North Korea has removed United Nations nuclear watchdog monitors, seals and cameras from its nuclear reprocessing plant at Yongbyon and aims to reintroduce nuclear material there in a week, officials say.
The announcement was made by a senior International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official to a closed meeting of its 35-nation board of governors in Vienna.
North Korea said on Friday it was working to reactivate the Yongbyon reactor complex, which it had been dismantling since last November under a disarmament-for-aid deal with five powers that has gone awry.
"There are no more seals and surveillance equipment in place at the reprocessing facility. [North Korea] further stated that from here on, IAEA inspectors will have no further access to the reprocessing plant," IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said, summarising the remarks by the senior agency official.
"[North Korea] also informed IAEA inspectors that they plan to introduce nuclear material to the reprocessing plant in one week's time," Ms Fleming told reporters.
Western diplomats and nuclear analysts have said North Korea would need at least several months and probably more time to restart the largely dismantled complex.
"The IAEA is no longer able to verify what is going on at Yongbyon," said a European diplomat at the meeting.
North Korea's foreign ministry has said steps are under way to restore Yongbyon to its "original state".
Australian reaction
Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith, has expressed concern about North Korea's plans to re-start a contentious nuclear reprocessing plant.
Stephen Smith, who's attending the United Nations General Assembly, says Australia's been concerned for some time about north korea's true intentions
"And what we've seen in the last couple of days just adds to our concern," he said.
Mr Smith is calling for renewed security council sanctions against North Korea.
