N. Korea accuses Washington of isolation tactics

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea on Sunday accused the United States of trying to isolate it from the world by claiming the communist country had broken nuclear arms control agreements.

The accusation is the latest development in the dispute between the North and the United States over North Korea's admitted nuclear weapons program, which Washington says violates a 1994 pact. Just three days ago, the United States, South Korea, Japan and the European Union agreed to halt fuel shipments beginning in December to punish the North for its program.

"The (United States') lie is aimed to tarnish the international prestige and authority of the DPRK (North Korea) and isolate the DPRK on a worldwide scale," said Rodong Sinmun, the North's communist party newspaper.

Under the 1994 deal, North Korea agreed to freeze its plutonium facilities suspected of being used to develop nuclear weapons in return for two light-water reactors and 550,000 tons of oil every year until the reactors were built.

But in September, the North acknowledged to visiting U.S. diplomats that it had a uranium-enriching program to develop nuclear weapons. North Korea says the United States violated the accord first, citing delays in the reactor project.

"Owing to the U.S. deliberate delay of light water reactors project, the DPRK has suffered a great loss of power and undergone grave economic difficulties. And it is seriously threatening the DPRK right to existence," said Rodong, carried by the North's state-run news agency, the Korean Central News Agency.

The decision to suspend oil shipments was made by a U.S.-led consortium that is building the reactors. Washington and its allies hope the energy-starved North will buckle under pressure and abandon the program.

Pyongyang has said it will only resolve the issue if the United States offers a nonaggression pact. Washington has rejected any talks with Pyongyang unless it gives up the nuclear weapons program.