Dav1936531
August 2nd 03, 04:16 AM
Well, here we go. These talks will either end in the dismantling of Kim Jong
IL's nuke program by US agreement to a non-agression treaty and NK's agreement
to the installation of a verifiable inspection and dismantlement program
(wherein the N. Koreans will attempt to deceive the inspectors to exhaustion)
or the talks will break down over some perceived insult to the North Koreans
and war will result. I'll lay odds on war.
Dave
SEOUL, South Korea (Aug. 1) - North Korea said Friday that it has agreed to
multilateral talks on its suspected development of nuclear weapons but will
push for one-on-one talks with the United States during the proposed
negotiations.
A spokesman of the communist North's Foreign Ministry told Pyongyang's official
news agency KCNA that North Korean officials delivered the proposal during a
meeting with U.S. officials in New York on Thursday Korean time.
North Korea has insisted for months on bilateral talks with Washington and its
willingness to accept U.S.-proposed six-party was seen as a concession.
But the comments also indicated that the isolated country might try hard to
elicit U.S. concessions, while stalling talks involving the other countries.
North Korea has insisted that the nuclear issue is essentially a bilateral
matter with the United States, while Washington considers it a regional
concern.
The spokesman said Pyongyang agreed to multilateral talks involving the two
Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia after Washington told North
Korea that the two sides can meet separately during those multilateral talks.
``Some time ago the U.S. informed the DPRK through a third party that the
DPRK-U.S. bilateral talks may be held within the framework of multilateral
talks,'' KCNA quoted the spokesman as saying.
DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, Democratic Republic of
Korea.
North Korea did not say when the proposed talks could take place, though news
reports have said they could happen in September. It said its proposal ``is now
under discussion.''
The last time the United States and North Korea had official talks was in April
in Beijing, but they have had unofficial talks in New York since then, via
North Korean diplomats at the United Nations.
U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton, on a trip to Japan, said Friday that
North Korea's willingness to accept Washington's proposal for six-nation talks
was encouraging news but doesn't change U.S. demands for Pyongyang to abandon
its nuclear ambitions.
Bolton said the timing of talks had yet to be worked out and stressed that
Washington's goal remains the ``complete, verifiable and irreversible''
dismantling of the communist regime's nuclear programs.
North Korea's neighbors also reacted with cautious optimism.
``Perhaps North Korea is beginning to ease a little bit,'' Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi said. ``We should promote multilateral talks and let
North Korea hear the voices of the international community.''
South Korea acknowledged being informed of the North's decision, while the
Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing said it was receptive to the idea of having
more nations join in the talks.
The U.S. State Department said Thursday that North Korea appeared ready to
accept President Bush's proposal for six-party talks. The first public word
came from Russia, where North Korean Ambassador Pak Ui Chun met with Deputy
Russian Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov. South Korea also confirmed the North's
intentions earlier Friday.
The nuclear standoff began last October with North Korea's acknowledgment to
U.S. officials that it has a uranium-based nuclear weapons program. It also has
been working on a plutonium-based program in recent months.
North Korea had tried for months to lure the United States into a discussion
leading to a nonaggression pact. Washington says it wants the nuclear dispute
resolved peacefully but has not ruled out a military option.
Washington demands that North Korea forsake its suspected nuclear weapons
programs. U.S. officials believe North Korea may already possess one or two
nuclear bombs and plan to build more.
08/01/03 09:16 EDT
IL's nuke program by US agreement to a non-agression treaty and NK's agreement
to the installation of a verifiable inspection and dismantlement program
(wherein the N. Koreans will attempt to deceive the inspectors to exhaustion)
or the talks will break down over some perceived insult to the North Koreans
and war will result. I'll lay odds on war.
Dave
SEOUL, South Korea (Aug. 1) - North Korea said Friday that it has agreed to
multilateral talks on its suspected development of nuclear weapons but will
push for one-on-one talks with the United States during the proposed
negotiations.
A spokesman of the communist North's Foreign Ministry told Pyongyang's official
news agency KCNA that North Korean officials delivered the proposal during a
meeting with U.S. officials in New York on Thursday Korean time.
North Korea has insisted for months on bilateral talks with Washington and its
willingness to accept U.S.-proposed six-party was seen as a concession.
But the comments also indicated that the isolated country might try hard to
elicit U.S. concessions, while stalling talks involving the other countries.
North Korea has insisted that the nuclear issue is essentially a bilateral
matter with the United States, while Washington considers it a regional
concern.
The spokesman said Pyongyang agreed to multilateral talks involving the two
Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia after Washington told North
Korea that the two sides can meet separately during those multilateral talks.
``Some time ago the U.S. informed the DPRK through a third party that the
DPRK-U.S. bilateral talks may be held within the framework of multilateral
talks,'' KCNA quoted the spokesman as saying.
DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, Democratic Republic of
Korea.
North Korea did not say when the proposed talks could take place, though news
reports have said they could happen in September. It said its proposal ``is now
under discussion.''
The last time the United States and North Korea had official talks was in April
in Beijing, but they have had unofficial talks in New York since then, via
North Korean diplomats at the United Nations.
U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton, on a trip to Japan, said Friday that
North Korea's willingness to accept Washington's proposal for six-nation talks
was encouraging news but doesn't change U.S. demands for Pyongyang to abandon
its nuclear ambitions.
Bolton said the timing of talks had yet to be worked out and stressed that
Washington's goal remains the ``complete, verifiable and irreversible''
dismantling of the communist regime's nuclear programs.
North Korea's neighbors also reacted with cautious optimism.
``Perhaps North Korea is beginning to ease a little bit,'' Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi said. ``We should promote multilateral talks and let
North Korea hear the voices of the international community.''
South Korea acknowledged being informed of the North's decision, while the
Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing said it was receptive to the idea of having
more nations join in the talks.
The U.S. State Department said Thursday that North Korea appeared ready to
accept President Bush's proposal for six-party talks. The first public word
came from Russia, where North Korean Ambassador Pak Ui Chun met with Deputy
Russian Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov. South Korea also confirmed the North's
intentions earlier Friday.
The nuclear standoff began last October with North Korea's acknowledgment to
U.S. officials that it has a uranium-based nuclear weapons program. It also has
been working on a plutonium-based program in recent months.
North Korea had tried for months to lure the United States into a discussion
leading to a nonaggression pact. Washington says it wants the nuclear dispute
resolved peacefully but has not ruled out a military option.
Washington demands that North Korea forsake its suspected nuclear weapons
programs. U.S. officials believe North Korea may already possess one or two
nuclear bombs and plan to build more.
08/01/03 09:16 EDT