The government has hinted that it will have to suspend economic and energy aid to North Korea if Pyongyang continues efforts to restart its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.

A Seoul official familiar with North Korean affairs said Friday that Seoul made it clear to Pyongyang that the energy aid is linked to the North’s denuclearization process.

North Korea has so far received about 49 percent of economic and energy aid, agreed upon by its dialogue partners in the six-party nuclear talks in return for its denuclearization.

The official also negated a North Korean Foreign Ministry official's claim that the North’s nuclear disablement is 90 percent complete.

The Seoul official added that Pyongyang is believed to be interested in continuing dialogue within the framework of the six-party talks, citing the fact that the North proposed Friday's inter-Korean meeting on economic aid.