US says North Korea has re-started nuclear reactor

12.20pm

UPDATED REPORT - North Korea has reactivated its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon within the last 24 hours, a US official said, raising the stakes in its diplomatic showdown with the United States.

But there were no signs that North Korea had restarted its nuclear fuel processing facility, which would be of even more concern to the United States, the official told Reuters.

"North Korea started its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon," the official said, adding the start-up took place within the last 24 hours. It had been closed since 1994.

"This is certainly less provocative than starting up the reprocessing facility, but it is significant nonetheless," the official said.

South Korea said it had not yet confirmed news from Washington officials that North Korea had reactivated its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon within the last 24 hours.

"Nothing has been confirmed," said a spokesman at the defence ministry in Seoul, adding that he was aware of media reports quoting US officials in Washington. The South Korean Unification Ministry said they too had no verification.

The presidential Blue House of new President Roh Moo-hyun, who was due to name his cabinet on Thursday morning, said it was unable immediately to comment on the reported move by Pyongyang. Roh took office on Tuesday.

There was no statement on the reactor yet on North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the main outlet for pronouncements from Pyongyang's communist government.

- REUTERS