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Pundits say Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's statement Wednesday that there were differences between Seoul and Washington over whether North Korea can have a peaceful nuclear program was no gaffe but informed by diplomatic considerations.
Chung, after all, mentioned differences between South Korea and the U.S. twice during the interview. His statement came just one day after U.S. President George W. Bush said he would never permit North Korea a civilian nuclear program, and it is unlikely that the head of a diplomatic and security ministry who understands full well the importance of cooperation between the allies would allow himself such a serious slip of the tongue.
The question whether the North can have a peaceful nuclear program was the main stumbling block during the 13 days of six-party talks in Beijing now in recess. It was failure to achieve consensus on that point that forced the three-week adjournment.
Many therefore read Chung's statement as a kind of media diplomacy to persuade Washington to yield on the issue.
A government official says there is a minority in the U.S. that agrees Washington will have no choice but to permit the North to use nuclear technology peacefully if the Stalinist country returns to the Non-Proliferation treaty and welcomes IAEA inspections. ¡°There's sufficient room for compromise," the official said. Chung himself told an interviewer on Friday, "The right to use nuclear energy peacefully, which North Korea claims it must have, is an issue about which agreement is possible through discussion and dialogue."
Others believe Chung was sending a message to Pyongyang, as encouragement to return to the talks after the recess because South Korea will try to convince the U.S. on the point.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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