Korea reactor moves send message: U.S. official

ORLANDO, Fla (Reuters) - North Korean's movement of equipment at its Yongbyon nuclear complex is probably a signal of displeasure with denuclearization talks and a demonstration the facility could be rebuilt if desired, a U.S. counter-proliferation official said on Wednesday.

The official said the United States had seen evidence that some parts had been moved back to their original location at the facility. She described the activity as "mostly symbolic, mostly done for effect in response to the negotiations."

"It's a step designed to show that they can take more steps if they want to," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"It doesn't mean that it's not real. It doesn't mean that it's not dangerous. But people shouldn't read too much into it."

The official was telephoned from an intelligence conference in Orlando.

The U.S. State Department said earlier on Wednesday that North Korea had begun to move stored equipment at its Yongbyon nuclear complex but could not confirm reports that it had begun to reassemble the facility.

North Korea announced on August 26 it would stop disabling its Soviet-era Yongbyon nuclear complex and accused the United States of violating the disarmament-for-aid deal negotiated by the two Koreas, China, Japan Russia and the United States.

Pyongyang said it did so because Washington had failed to drop it from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list. The United States said North Korea must first agree on a system to verify Pyongyang's disclosures about its nuclear programs.

The counter-proliferation official said the recent steps at the reactor could be easily reversed and allow the talks to get back on track.

(Reporting by Randall Mikkelsen, editing by David Alexander)