U.S. says North Korean move is "step backward"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday that North Korea's decision to temporarily stop disabling its nuclear facilities was a "step backward" and violated commitments under a six-nation disarmament deal.

The White House also made clear the U.S. demand that North Korea must first fulfil its commitment to disable nuclear facilities before the United States removed Pyongyang from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"We understand that disablement activities have been halted temporarily and that North Korea has linked the resumption of these activities to the rescission of its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said from Crawford, Texas where President George W. Bush is on vacation.

Being taken off the terrorism blacklist results in a end to many financial restrictions and would provide greater market access to Pyongyang.

"We've informed North Korea that we will take action to rescind its designation when it fulfils its commitment regarding verification," said Fratto.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood voiced strong concern over North Korea's announcement it would stop disabling its nuclear facilities and consider restoring the Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs.

"It is clearly a step backward and we will be having discussions with our other partners in the six party talks to see how things play out," said Wood, referring to China, Russia, Japan and South Korea which are involved in disarmament talks with Pyongyang along with the United States.

"It is a violation of their commitments to the six-party framework. It certainly is in violation of the principle of action for action," he added.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to the Palestinian territories, sought to play down the North Korean announcement.