The North Korean government has banned international atomic inspectors from the country's nuclear sites at Yongbyon, according to diplomats.

The decision was made recently, but the diplomats declined to offer further details, The Associated Press reported.

If true, the move by North Korea expands the areas in which the International Atomic Energy Agency no longer has access.

Pyongyang already barred agency personnel from its plutonium reprocessing facility at Yongbyon last month.

That move followed threats by Pyongyang to restart its weapons-producing atomic program.

© 2008 Newsroom.