Secretary of State Colin L. Powell issued a warning Wednesday that he would scrap the planned delivery of light water reactors to North Korea unless it allows the IAEA to investigate nuclear facilities. Powell told the House Appropriations Committee the time will come when the North has to allow nuclear inspections as promised with the light water reactors construction works in progress.

However, he said, reactor construction in the North would continue even though transparency does not satisfy expectations as of now.

Three US House representatives; Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.); criticized the North for developing nuclear weapons and called for the cancellation of the light water project, in a joint press release. The three lawmakers said they urged President Bush in a letter on February 5 to reconsider the promised delivery of light water reactors, but have yet to receive a reply.

They noted President Bush's visit to Asia next week will be a good opportunity for him to announce that he is reconsidering whether to continue the delivery of light water reactors to the North or not.

(From Washington, Ju Yong-joon, midway@chosun.com )