N Korea atomic accord in peril

GENEVA (Reuter) - A senior North Korean official warned that his country could tear up an accord allowing international inspectors into its nuclear facilities if they insist on visiting two sites that Pyongyang says are secret.

Ri Tcheul, North Korea's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the row with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) put in jeopardy the 'safeguards agreement' they signed last year. 'If the IAEA continues to request a special inspection, then it forces (North Korea) not to implement her obligations under the agreement,' he said. 'If the IAEA blocks the way to negotiation or dialogue with us with coercive actions, it is quite natural for (North Korea)) to take self-defensive measures.'