An official newspaper of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Tuesday that the country is actively constructing light-water reactors by operating "thousands" of centrifuges at its uranium enrichment plant.

The move was for "peaceful use," said an article carried by Rodong Sinmun, adding that the development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes have become a global trend.

Nuclear capability on peaceful purpose is not a monopoly of some countries, but the reasonable right of developing countries, it said.

Currently, some Western countries connived at the nuclear activities of countries pleasing to its eyes while inflicting pressure and dealing sanctions to some "indocile" countries, said the article.

This is unjust "double standard," it claimed.

The construction of light-water reactors guarantees the growing demand to electricity of the DPRK, which will develop its nuclear capability on peaceful purpose more actively in the future, said the article.

The latest revelation came after The New York Times reported earlier this month that the DPRK recently showed U.S. nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker a vast, new plant in Yongbyon for uranium enrichment with centrifuges installed.

The New York Times said the DPRK side told Hecker that some 2,000 centrifuges were operating in the plant.

However, the DPRK has not confirmed that report.