ROK says regrettable for DPRK's restart of reactor
Updated: 2013-04-02 16:34
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the restart of the nuclear reactor in Yongbyon would be "very regrettable" after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced its decision to restart operations at the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
"I watched the (KCNA's) report. It would be very regrettable if the news report is true," foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young told reporters at a regular briefing.
The remarks came after the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a spokesman of the DPRK's department for atomic energy as saying that it has decided to refurbish and re-operate the five-megawatt graphite moderated reactor, which was shut down in October 2007 under an agreement at the six-party talks.
The resumption of the reactor operation, which the spokesman said will be made "without delay," would allow the DPRK to extract plutonium from spent fuel rods. The northern neighbor said the restart will contribute to solving the problem of electricity shortage by developing its nuclear power industry in a self-sufficient way.
ROK's foreign ministry spokesman urged the DPRK to "live up to promises it made in the past and sustain denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," saying that Seoul will continue to closely watch the developments.
- US says DPRK's threat deepens isolation
- DPRK legislators meet amid nuclear tension
- DPRK legislates status of defensive nuclear state
- Park orders military to respond strongly to DPRK provocations
- DPRK to develop nuclear power industry
- Australia considers further sanctions on DPRK
- DPRK says to enter 'state of war' with ROK
- Li Na on Time cover, makes influential 100 list
- FBI releases photos of 2 Boston bombings suspects
- World's wackiest hairstyles
- Sandstorms strike Northwest China
- Never-seen photos of Madonna on display
- H7N9 outbreak linked to waterfowl migration
- Dozens feared dead in Texas plant blast
- Venezuelan court rules out manual votes counting
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
TCM - Keeping healthy in Chinese way |
Poultry industry under pressure |
Today's Top News
Boston bombing suspect reported cornered on boat
7.0-magnitude quake hits Sichuan
Cross-talk artist helps to spread the word
'Green' awareness levels drop in Beijing
Palace Museum spruces up
First couple on Time's list of most influential
H7N9 flu transmission studied
Trading channels 'need to broaden'
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |