A group of officials from the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) reportedly visited North Korea from February 19th to the 22nd to discuss issues related to the temporary suspension of the light water reactor construction in the North.

The talks came amid increasing diplomatic pressure on the North after it declared that it possesses nuclear weapons and that it would indefinitely pull out of the six-party talks. The fact that the meeting took place also appears to demonstrate the importance placed by the North on KEDO's construction of two light water reactors in the communist country.

The KEDO delegates, who remained in Hyangsan in North Pyongan province during their stay, met with North Korean officials and briefed them on their decision to extend the suspension of the nuclear reactor project for another year and discussed follow-up measures.

The KEDO negotiators reportedly asked North Korean officials for permission to withdraw their building materials and construction equipments from the communist country but the North Koreans reportedly reiterated their previous refusal to comply with the request.

Construction of the two 1,000-megawatt light-water reactors, roughly one-third complete, was part of a 1994 deal in which the communist country pledged to give up its nuclear arms activities.

Construction was initially suspended in November 2003, about a year after North Korea expelled international nuclear inspectors and said it would resume its nuclear development program.