PYONGYANG, North Korea, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- North Korea said Tuesday it will not scrap its nuclear programs and not return to the nonproliferation regime before it is given light-water nuclear reactors.
"The United States should not even dream of the issue of the DPRK's dismantlement of its nuclear deterrent before providing LWRs, a physical guarantee for confidence-building," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"What is most essential is, therefore, for the United States to provide LWRs to the DPRK as soon as possible as evidence proving the (U.S.'s) substantial recognition of the DPRK's nuclear activity for a peaceful purpose," said the statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
"We will return to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and sign the Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and comply with it immediately upon the U.S. provision of light-water reactors, a basis of confidence-building, to us," it said.
The statement, which come less than a day after the biggest breakthrough in two years of six-party talks on the North's nuclear issue, dented hopes of ending the prolonged nuclear standoff.
In a breakthrough in the yearlong nuclear crisis, North Korea on Monday agreed to scrap all its nuclear weapons and weapons-related programs and rejoin the NPT in exchange for political and economic benefits.
In the joint statement issued at the end of the six-nation talks, the United States and other nations involved would respect Pyongyang's demand for a light-water reactor and discuss it at "an appropriate time."
