The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency examines reports on North Korea's nuclear program this week amid indications the country may be ready to open itself to extensive international inspections.
But worries persist that the isolated communist nation could be lying about peaceful intentions, has hidden facilities where nuclear weapons could be produced and may have stockpiled weapons-grade plutonium for atomic arms.The International Atomic Energy Agency, convening in Vienna Monday, was to focus on inspection reports on North Korea's Yong-byon nuclear complex.
Officials suspect the North Koreans are building a plutonium reprocessing facility there.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap on Monday quoted Chung Kun-mo, a nuclear scientist serving as South Korean ambassador to the IAEA, as saying there is no doubt the north's facilities are for the production of nuclear weapons.
North Korea on Monday denied once again charges it is developing nuclear weapons and pledged to use nuclear energy only for peaceful purposes.