North Korea threatens to slow down nuclear disablement

Tokyo: North Korea threatened to slow down the disabling of its nuclear programme in response to the US decision to suspend energy aid to the country, the Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday.

"We will probably adjust the pace of pace disablement at nuclear facilities if [the aid] is suspended," said North Korean vice foreign minister Kim Kye-gwan.

North Korea complained on Wednesday about a delay in energy aid, saying it has slowed disabling the Yongbyon reactor in response.

North Korea has agreed to give up nuclear weapons but has resisted US attempts to put in place strict measures to ensure it is not hiding any active atomic programs.