N. Korea demands nuke reactor from U.S.
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-20 18:59

North Korea insisted Tuesday it won't dismantle its nuclear weapons program until the U.S. gives it civilian nuclear reactors, casting doubt on a disarmament agreement reached a day earlier during international talks, the Associated Press reported.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, left, shakes hands with North Korean chief negotiator Kim Gye Gwan as South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, center, looks on at the close of talks over North Korea's nuclear crisis at the Diaoyutai state guest house in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 19, 2005. Diplomats from six nations issued a joint statement at the end of the latest round of talks. [AP]

Washington reiterated its rejection of the reactor demand and joined China in urging North Korea to stick to the agreement announced Monday in which it pledged to abandon all its nuclear programs in exchange for economic aid and security assurances.

North Korea's new demands underlined its unpredictable nature and deflated some optimism from the Beijing agreement, the first since negotiations began in August 2003 among the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

"The U.S. should not even dream of the issue of (North Korea's) dismantlement of its nuclear deterrent before providing (light-water reactors), a physical guarantee for confidence-building," the North's Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

U.S. officials dismissed the demand.