North Korea has ended co-operation with UN nuclear inspectors and ordered them to leave the country, the International Atomic Energy Agency says.
It told the IAEA to remove seals and equipment from the Yongbyon reactor and said that it would reactivate all its nuclear facilities, the watchdog said.
The move comes after the communist nation said it was pulling out of talks on ending its nuclear programme.
North Korea is angry about a UN statement condemning its rocket launch.
Pyongyang says it was putting a satellite in orbit, but other nations believe it was testing missile technology.
'No access'
In a statement, the UN watchdog said North Korea had served notice that it would cease co-operation immediately.
"It [the North] has requested the removal of all containment and surveillance equipment, following which, IAEA inspectors will no longer be provided access to the facility," the statement said.
"The inspectors have also been asked to leave... [North Korea] at the earliest possible time."
IAEA inspectors went to North Korea following the landmark February 2007 deal, under which it agreed to end its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and political incentives.
But earlier on Tuesday North Korea announced it was pulling out of six-party talks on the deal, after the UN Security Council issued a statement saying its 5 April rocket launch contravened a UN resolution.
"We will never again take part in such talks and will not be bound by any agreement reached at the talks," a foreign ministry statement said.
The US called Pyongyang's decision to withdraw a "serious step" in the wrong direction.
"We call on North Korea to cease its provocative threats... and to honour its international commitments", a White House spokesman said.
China and Russia, meanwhile, have urged North Korea to reconsider its decision, with Beijing calling for "calm and restraint".
North Korea orders UN inspectors out
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