North Korea said Friday that it will shut down its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon as soon as it starts receiving 50-thousand tons of heavy fuel oil promised under a six-nation agreement in February.

Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that his government will not wait until it receives the entire 50-thousand tons but is preparing to suspend operation of the nuclear facilities upon arrival of the first shipment.

He said the move is to make progress in the six-party process, noting it would not be until early next month before all of the 50-thousand tons of heavy fuel oil arrives in the North.

He also warned that if mutual trust is affected by failure to provide the aid in time even after the facilities are suspended, it would become legitimate for North Korea to resume its nuclear acitivies.