Vienna- North Korea has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it plans to operate its plutonium- reprocessing facility next week, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Melissa Fleming also said that North Korea had informed the Vienna-based agency that "from here on the IAEA inspectors will have no further access to the reprocessing plant."

IAEA inspectors will remain at Yongbyon nuclear complex to monitor the freeze of the reactor and other nuclear facilities located there.

On request from North Korea, IAEA inspectors completed removing the seals and cameras Wednesday from the reprocessing facility, which was likely used by the secretive communist state to make plutonium for use in nuclear weapons.

North Korea agreed to a nuclear freeze with the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, in exchange for energy aid and an easing of sanctions. (dpa)