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Seoul submitted a plan during six-party talks on North Korea¡¯s nuclear program that would permit Pyongyang peaceful use of atomic energy ? the main stumbling block in the negotiations. The U.S. wants North Korea to surrender all nuclear programs including peaceful ones.
A South Korean official at the talks said China submitted a draft plan saying under the Non-Proliferation Treaty North Korea had both "rights and obligations," which Pyongyang rejected. Seoul then proposed a fresh draft that read the North had "both the right to use nuclear power peacefully and obligations," but this was rejected by the U.S.
"We have to negotiate with the U.S. over a plan that permits North Korea to use nuclear energy peacefully under strict conditions," the official said. Another said if North Korea returns to the NPT, it could ¡°naturally¡± enjoy the right to peaceful use. He confirmed there would be efforts to find ¡°points of contact¡± between the two sides. It appears the ball is now in Washington¡¯s court.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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