The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Seoul

North Korea said on Tuesday it would suspend disablement of its nuclear facilities and consider restoring the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, accusing the United States of violating a disarmament deal.

"We have decided to immediately suspend disabling our nuclear facilities," the North's KCNA news agency quoted a foreign ministry official as saying. "This measure has been effective on August 14 and related parties have been notified of it," the official said.

Regional powers have been pressing North Korea to accept stringent measures to verify the declaration it made in July of its nuclear program. The United States has put off taking the North off its list of state sponsors of terrorism until there is agreement on verification. The announcement comes after comments on Monday by the U.S. envoy for nuclear talks with the communist state that he had "substantive" talks with his North Korean counterpart.