Japan's Kyodo News Agency says North Korea has asked China several times since last year to provide fuel to be used for military purposes.

Quoting sources familiar with North Korea-China relations, the news agency said Tuesday that among the fuel Pyongyang has requested from China was a special type that maintains combustion efficiency even under freezing temperatures.

The reports said China had spurned the requests out of fear that the fuel could be used for missile and nuclear development instead of being used for military training during the winter season.

The news agency said the North's request for fuel apparently shows that Pyongyang, though it might not be conducting missile tests, is continuously working on missile development.