Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported Saturday that the three allies would urge North Korea at a next round of multilateral nuclear crisis talks to stop using all of its nuclear facilities.

The three nations have reached a basic agreement to bar North Korea from using nuclear energy even for peaceful purposes, the daily said, adding they would only consider providing aid to build thermal power plants.

"The report is not true," the South's foreign ministry said in a statement.

For a year from December 1, a US-led consortium suspended work on its multi-billion dollar plan to build two light water nuclear reactors for North Korea, deemed less suitable for producing weapons-grade plutonium.

But the ministry stressed the suspension does not mean "a permanent end to the project."

"(The consortium) will make a decision later on whether to resume work," it said.

A 1994 accord requires the energy-starved country to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for the construction of two light-water nuclear reactors and an interim supply of fuel oil.

The United States considers the 1994 deal ruptured after accusing Pyongyang last year of launching a prohibited program to enrich uranium for weapons production.

Since then Pyongyang has thrown out international inspectors, unfrozen its Yongbyon nuclear plant, pulled out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and demanded compensation from the United States.

The Yomiuri report came as two American delegations head for North Korea in the hope of securing a look at Yongbyon plant.

Washington has demanded that Pyongyang unilaterally scrap its nuclear program, while North Korea has insisted on a legally binding security guarantee from the United States in return for a nuclear climb-down.

WAR.WIRE