Pyongyang Orders IAEA Inspectors to Leave

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, December 28, 2002

Pyongyang Orders IAEA Inspectors to Leave

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) on Friday ordered inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to leave the country, a move that may fuel further tension over its nuclear issue.

Ri Je Son, director general of the DPRK's General Department ofAtomic Energy, informed IAEA chief Mohamed Elbaradei of the decision in a letter dated Friday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The DPRK government decided to order the IAEA inspectors out ofthe country as their mission to monitor the freeze on the graphite-moderated reactors and its related facilities has automatically come to an end, says the letter.

"Since the freeze on our nuclear facilities was lifted, the mission of the IAEA inspectors, who have been staying in Nyongbyonto monitor the freeze under the Agreed Framework, has automatically come to an end," the letter reads.

The DPRK will complete the suspended construction of its nuclear power plants and operate the radiochemical laboratory as part of the preparations for safely storing a large number of spent fuel rods which would be turned out during the operation of those plants, Ri says in the letter.

The DPRK decided on Dec. 12 to unfreeze its nuclear program after the United States suspended supply of heavy fuel oil. Surveillance devices were removed from these facilities on Sunday.

Under the 1994 Agreed Framework, the DPRK agreed to freeze its graphite-moderated reactors, which could be used to produce nuclear weapons, in return for two light-water reactors and 500,000 tons of heavy oil a year from the United States.

Questions?Comments? Click here

What Is Bush's Missile Defense System Intended for? ( 8 Messages)

Russia Warns US Against Improper Approach to DPRK's Nuclear Issue ( 8 Messages)

China Set Trade Growth Goal at 7 Percent in 2003 ( 5 Messages)

'Theory of China Exporting Deflation' Doesn't Conform to Fact: Commentary ( 6 Messages)

Zhu, Schroeder to be on Maiden Trip of China's First Maglev Train ( 11 Messages)