International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei says North Korea could restart its nuclear facilities within a few months.

When asked on Monday how soon the North could have its nuclear facilities up and running once more, ElBaradei said “it could be a question of months.”

North Korea said earlier this month that it will rebuild its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon in protest of a U.N. Security Council presidential statement denouncing Pyongyang’s April fifth rocket launch.

ElBaradei also said he hopes the openness of the Barack Obama administration in the U.S. will lead to negotiations with North Korea, adding that the IAEA is hopeful that six-party discussions for ending the North’s nuclear ambitions will resume.