BEIJING, July 21: North Korea's top nuclear envoy said on Saturday Pyongyang wanted a light-water reactor as compensation for shutting down its nuclear programmes.

“For the shutdown, disabling, and eventual dismantlement, the light-water nuclear reactor should come in,” Kim Kye-Gwan told reporters at Beijing airport before leaving for Pyongyang.

Kim's comments follow nuclear disarmament talks in Beijing that ended on Friday with the Stalinist state reiterating its intention to declare all its nuclear programmes and disable them in return for fuel aid and diplomatic concessions.

No deadline was agreed upon during the three days of talks that involve China, the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia.

The talks began in 2003 to rein in North Korea's nuclear ambitions, but the reclusive regime conducted its first atomic test in October last year.

The six nations agreed in September 2005 to discuss furnishing North Korea with light-water reactors “at an appropriate time,” with Washington insisting that Pyongyang must first disable all its current nuclear programmes.

The reactors, which generate electricity, are sought by North Korea as the impoverished nation needs a steady energy supply.

Kim also on Saturday accused Japan of causing a political crisis that could lead to “disaster”.—AFP