North Korea may be preparing to shut down its main nuclear reactor, news reports claimed today.
The Yongbyon reactor remains in operation, but there was a high possibility that movement of cars and people at the site recorded in satellite photos could be linked to a shutdown, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
The report renews hopes that Pyongyang will comply with a disarmament agreement days after the North missed a Saturday deadline to shut down the reactor and allow UN inspectors to verify and seal the facility.
If the North complies with the February deal, it would be its first move toward stopping production of nuclear weapons since 2002, the start of the latest nuclear standoff.
The North is believed to have produced as many as a dozen atomic bombs since then, and it conducted an underground test detonation in October.
Pyongyang said last week that honouring its pledge was contingent on the release of money frozen in a separate financial dispute after Washington black-listed a bank where North Korea had accounts. The funds were allegedly used in money laundering and counterfeiting.
The money was freed for withdrawal last week.