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N Korea to boycott nuclear talks North Korea 'quits nuclear talks'
(about 2 hours later)
North Korea has said it will boycott talks over its nuclear programme in protest at UN criticism of its recent rocket launch, says state media. North Korea has vowed to walk out on international talks to end its nuclear programme, and said it would restore its disabled nuclear reactor.
Pyongyang said the talks over ending its weapons programme were "useless". The unusually strong statement follows criticism by the UN Security Council of its recent rocket launch, which critics say was a long-range missile test.
North Korea also said it would restart nuclear facilities it had begun to dismantle under an international deal. North Korea says its launch was part of a peaceful space programme, designed to put a satellite into orbit.
The move comes hours after the UN Security Council unanimously condemned the launch, which critics say may have been a test for a long-range missile. Pyongyang described the UN statement as an "unbearable insult".
North Korea says it was a peaceful space programme, designed to put a satellite into orbit. The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the six-party talks, involving North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US, have seen many setbacks since they began more than five years ago, but now North Korea says it is walking out for good.
The statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry said it "resolutely condemns" the UN move, which it said infringed on sovereignty and "severely debases" North Koreans.
N Korea celebrates launch N Korea a problem for Obama N Korea celebrates launch N Korea a problem for Obama
"There is no need for the six-party talks any more. We will never again take part in such talks and will not be bound by any agreement reached at the talks," it said. The North said it would never again take part in the talks, adding that it would restore its partially disabled Yongbyon nuclear reactor - the fuel source for its 2006 atomic test.
The ministry said North Korea would "strengthen its nuclear deterrent for its defence by all means". Pyongyang partially dismantled the plant in 2008, as part of an international agreement which guaranteed it aid and diplomatic concessions in exchange for disabling its nuclear facilities.
Pyongyang also said it would begin the process of restarting its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, which was partially dismantled in 2008 under an international agreement in exchange for aid and diplomatic concessions. The government-controlled North Korean news agency said the action was in response to a UN statement condemning the recent rocket launch and agreeing to tighten existing sanctions.
The plant provided the fuel for nuclear weapons tests in 2006. The North Korean Foreign Ministry said the UN move infringed its sovereignty and "severely debases" North Koreans.
The ministry said it would "strengthen its nuclear deterrent for its defence by all means".
Russia reacted by calling on Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table, while China appealed for "calm and restraint" from all sides.
SetbacksSetbacks
In a statement on Monday, the 15-member council unanimously condemned the long-range rocket launch on 5 April. The move comes hours after the 15-member Security Council unanimously condemned the long-range rocket launch on 5 April.
The council also ordered the UN Sanctions Committee to begin enforcing both financial sanctions and an existing arms embargo imposed after the 2006 tests.The council also ordered the UN Sanctions Committee to begin enforcing both financial sanctions and an existing arms embargo imposed after the 2006 tests.
There had been hope that the unified statement could pave the way for a return to the talks, which have stalled over the inability to verify the shutdown of Yongbyon.There had been hope that the unified statement could pave the way for a return to the talks, which have stalled over the inability to verify the shutdown of Yongbyon.
North Korea had previously threatened that any criticism of the rocket launch would cause it to walk away from the negotiating table.North Korea had previously threatened that any criticism of the rocket launch would cause it to walk away from the negotiating table.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the Foreign Ministry's statement is unusually strong even by North Korea's usual standards, but there have been various setbacks over the six years that the talks have been taking place. But our correspondent says there will be many in the diplomatic community who believe there is still room for negotiation and that North Korea can be persuaded to return.
There will be many in the diplomatic community who believe there is still room for negotiation and that North Korea can be persuaded to return, says our correspondent.