North Korea Raises
Stakes in Nuclear Standoff, Demands Reactors for Dismantling Nuclear
Program
September 23, 2005 — By Edith Lederer, Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS — North Korea's deputy
foreign minister insisted that his country be given light-water nuclear
reactors at the same time that it dismantles its nuclear program to
demonstrate "good faith," raising the stakes in the nuclear standoff
with the United States.
U.S. officials had downplayed Pyongyang's insistence on reactors soon
after an agreement was announced Monday at six-party nuclear talks in
Beijing in which North Korea pledged to drop its nuclear weapons
development and rejoin international arms treaties before the subject of
light-water reactors is discussed.
But Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon's repeated demand Thursday for
"simultaneous action" on disarmament and the provision of reactors made
clear how important the issue is to North Korea.
"What is important here is that all the parties concerned move ...
simultaneously," Choe replied when asked about the agreement. "If one
side is imposing to move first while the other side is waiting -- that
is illogical."
North Korea made clear at the Beijing talks that "the practical basis"
for removing distrust between Pyongyang and Washington was for the
United States to provide light water reactors to North Korea, he told a
small group of reporters after addressing the U.N. General Assembly.
In his speech to the assembly's ministerial meeting, Choe said, "What is
most essential at this stage is for the United States to provide
light-water reactors to the DPRK as soon as possible as evidence proving
the former's substantial recognition of the latter's right to peaceful
nuclear activities." He used the acronym for the North's official name,
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Negotiators at the six-party talks agreed to meet again in November,
where they are expected to move to concrete discussions on implementing
the broad principles outlined in Monday's agreement.
Choe told reporters he expects the issue of the light-water reactors and
compensation to North Korea for dismantling its nuclear reactor to be
discussed at that time.
"We think all the issues should be resolved on the basis of the joint
statement adopted recently, on the basis of simultaneous action," he
said. "What is important is to take measures for implementing the
provisions of the joint statement phrase by phrase on the basis of
simultaneous actions in good faith."
Choe reiterated in his speech that North Korea's ultimate goal is the
full denuclearization of the Korean peninsula "at any cost," but he said
that can happen only after relations are normalized with the United
States.
While he pointedly condemned the United States, Choe was far more
subdued in his criticism than previous statements out of North Korea.
Asked whether North Korea saw any change in the approach of President
George W. Bush's administration, Choe noted that at the six-party talks
the United States pledged to recognize the sovereignty of North Korea
and to coexistence with the North.
"This is different from what the United States has been saying toward my
country, labeling it as an `axis of evil,' and their target of
pre-emptive nuclear strikes," he said.
Asked what the North thought of Bush personally, he said, "it is true
that in the past years, the United States has been slandering very
harshly DPRK but recently we see less."
Choe confirmed that North Korea informed the United Nations that it
wants all humanitarian assistance from the United Nations and other
international organizations terminated by the end of the year, partly
because of U.S. interference.
He said the humanitarian situation has improved "to a great extent,"
grain production is expected to increase, and the government can feed
the people. But he said another reason for the termination is the
attempt by 13 countries, especially the United States, "to politicize
the humanitarian assistance" by linking it to human rights in North
Korea.
Choe said this constitutes interference in the internal affairs of the
country.
The nation of 23 million has received emergency food from the WFP and
other international groups since natural disasters and mismanagement
caused its economy to collapse in the mid-1990s.
During a meeting Wednesday, Choe said he thanked Secretary-General Kofi
Annan for the humanitarian help and told him North Korea now wants
development assistance. He said Annan said he would try to provide it.
Source: Associated Press |