TOKYO () -- North Korea has threatened to torpedo moves toward clearing up suspicion over its nuclear program, saying it will never allow inspection of key nuclear sites.


The stand directly contradicted a condition laid down by the United States in its latest attempt to resolve the long dispute over the North's suspected nuclear weapons program.


At talks in Geneva a week ago, the United States told North Korea it would provide a new light-water reactor in return for a freeze in its current program using graphite reactors, which can produce plutonium used in bomb-making. However a specific demand for special inspections was not made until last week, when U.S. President Bill Clinton agreed with South Korean President Kim Young-sam that the inspections were needed.