The United States should provide light-water reactors to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as soon as possible, Choe Su Hon, Deputy Foreign Minister of the DPRK, said on Thursday.
"What is most essential at this stage is for the United States to provide light-water reactors to the DPRK as soon as possible as evidence proving the former's substantial recognition of the latter's right to peaceful nuclear activities," Choe said in his speech to the general debate of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly.
He reiterated that the DPRK will abandon its nuclear weapons if the DPRK-US relations are normalized, bilateral confidence is built and the DPRK is not exposed to the US nuclear threat any longer.
"The ultimate goal of the DPRK with regard to the nuclear issue is the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," Choe stressed.
"We will watch closely how the United States will move in actuality at the phase of 'action for action'" he added. "The Government of our Republic will continue its best endeavor with patience for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."
At the six-party talks in Beijing on Monday, the DPRK had promised to drop its nuclear program for economic assistance and security assurance, the first agreement in more than two years of contentious negotiations.
The six parties, including China, DPRK, South Korea, Russia, Japan and the US, had agreed at the fourth round of talks to wind up Pyongyang's nuclear programs in return for aid and recognition of its right to a civilian nuclear program.
They also agreed to discuss providing a light-water reactor "at an appropriate time".