From BBC News

Pyongyang today said that it would not longer be taking part in the six-party talks due to what it sees as criticism from the UN over it's alleged satellite launch/missile test on April 5th.

The North said it would never again take part in the talks, adding that it would restore its partially disabled Yongbyon nuclear reactor - the fuel source for its 2006 atomic test.

The nuclear reactor at Yongyon was partially dismantled in 2008 in order to meet the requirements put on aid and diplomatic agreements. Any moves to re-construct the reactor would be viewed by many in the international community as a blatant two fingers to those pressing for further non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.


I wonder whether the North Koreans were waiting until after the launch to see whether the missile system worked before deciding what approach to adopt towards the UN and the six-party talks. This whole thing seems as if the Koreans have now realised that they finally have a missile which works (or at least appears to work) and that all they're missing are the warheads. They probably think that if they can enrich the uranium and have it ready to go in terms of warheads then they'll be in a much better position to negotiate multi-laterally, or also to act uni-laterally.

Potentially dangerous times ahead IMHO.