SEOUL, South Korea - President Kim Dae Jung endorses the decision by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization to cut off shipments of heavy oil to North Korea beginning next month if the North fails to take steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, a senior official said yesterday.

The official said that Kim was consulted on negotiations among South Korean, Japanese and American officials and that he recognized the need for a strong position despite his previous pleas for dialogue rather than tough action that might upset efforts toward reconciliation between North and South Korea.

The official suggested, however, that Kim had been disappointed to learn that the North had gone ahead with a program for developing nuclear warheads with highly enriched uranium in violation of a 1994 agreement.

"How can President Kim abandon his 'sunshine' policy in the last stage of his presidency," said the official, referring to Kim's efforts at engagement with the North since his election as president in December 1997. Kim's endorsement appeared to have been critical in the support of the American demand to cut off shipments of heavy oil to North Korea next month unless it dismantles its program for developing nuclear weapons.

The decision was made by board members of the consortium set up by the 1994 agreement to build twin light-water nuclear reactors to fulfill the North's energy needs. The oil is provided under that agreement.