US satellite confirms NKorea reactivated nuclear reactor last month: report

US satellite confirms NKorea reactivated nuclear reactor last month: report: "TOKYO (AFP) Aug 21, 2005
A US spy satellite has found that North Korea reactivated its nuclear reactor last month after it spotted vapor coming out of the reactor's boiler, a Japanese daily said Sunday.

The reactivation of the Yongbyon nuclear complex came just before six-nation talks aimed at halting the North's nuclear drive began in Beijing in late July, the Asahi Shimbun daily said, quoting unnamed diplomatic sources.

The topic of the reactivated reactor had been discussed during the talks -- which involved the two Koreas, Russia, Japan, China and the United States -- the daily said without giving further details.

The Asahi said vapor had not been seen at the Yongbyon reactor since early April, and the report quoted a US source as saying that the release of vapor indicated renewed activity."