Analysts say North Korea, which often accuses the US of plotting to invade it, is fearful that Washington would turn up pressure on the isolated communist nation if the US military conducts a successful campaign in any war with Iraq.
The North froze its nuclear facilities in a 1994 energy deal with the US, but the deal unraveled after US officials said in October that North Korea had admitted embarking on a second, clandestine nuclear program.
Washington and its allies suspended oil shipments as punishment. The North then took steps to restart the Yongbyon facilities, expelled UN monitors and withdrew from a global nuclear arms control treaty.
US officials say they suspect the nuclear facilities were used to extract enough weapons-grade plutonium for one or two weapons before they were frozen.
The US State Department on Wednesday demanded North Korea "visibly, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear weapons program."
The North Korean spokesman, who did not refer to specific facilities, also criticized US efforts to bring the nuclear dispute to the UN Security Council.
The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors will meet next Wednesday to discuss the standoff and is almost certain to send the dispute to the Security Council -- a move that could lead to economic sanctions against Pyongyang.
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