The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- the U.N. nuclear watchdog -- said Monday that it is seeking to intensify analytical work on the nuclear plan of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"I intend to enhance the agency's readiness to play an essential role in verifying the DPRK's nuclear program and will update the Board in due course," Yukiya Amano, Director General of the the IAEA, told a board meeting in Vienna.
The IAEA currently has no nuclear inspector in the DPRK, which withdrew its membership of the IAEA in 1994. Therefore, the agency could only get the information of the DPRK's nuclear plan from satellites or by other means.
"We need to intensify our analytical work in order to maintain and strengthen our knowledge (of the DPRK's nuclear plan)," he told a press conference later.
The IAEA chief said he remained seriously concerned about the DPRK's nuclear program, calling on the country to comply fully with its obligations and to cooperate promptly with the agency.
