North Korea reportedly requested two thermoelectric power plants in return for a nuclear freeze at the first round of working group nuclear talks held in Beijing last month.

Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper, quoting diplomatic sources in Washington, said North Korea had requested the two thermoelectric power plants, which use natural gas as fuel, as compensation for a prospective nuclear dismantlement.

The United States has reportedly turned down Pyongyang's request while South Korea, Russia and Japan have shown interest in the proposal.

North Korea, which is in critical need of energy, may have made the proposal in consideration of Washington's recent move to terminate the construction of two light-water reactors in the North.