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(From Agence France Presse)
The United States warned North Korea on Friday against taking the "provocative" step of reprocessing nuclear fuel rods to convert them into bomb-grade plutonium.
The warning came as US officials reported that spy satellites have detected suspicious activity at a North Korean nuclear complex that could be the movement of the 8,000 rods.
North Korea in turn made a new demand that the United States agree to a non-aggression pact to end the nuclear showdown.
"Any steps toward beginning reprocessing would be yet another provocative action by North Korea intended to intimidate and blackmail the international community," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.
"Any such step would have the effect of further isolating North Korea from the international community, which is united in seeking a peaceful resolution of the current situation," the spokesman said.
The United States supports the push by the UN nuclear watchdog to bring the North Korea case to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions on the Stalinist state, Fleischer added.