|
With the ink not yet dry on a joint statement of principles that ended a grueling round of six-nation talks on North Korea¡¯s nuclear program on Monday, the Stalinist country is already locking horns again with the U.S. over a light-water nuclear reactor it wants and the timeframe for abandoning its nuclear arms.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry on Tuesday offered an idiosyncratic reading of Monday¡¯s agreement, saying the country would rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty and come back into full IAEA compliance ¡°when the U.S. provides us with a light-water reactor that can be the basis of bilateral confidence.¡± It said Pyongyang was ¡°fair and square, consistent and deep-rooted like a rock. The U.S. should not even dream of asking us to give up the nuclear deterrent we already have before providing a light-water nuclear reactor. That is the security of building bilateral confidence, physical security.¡± The statement of principles was understood to be merely envisaging ¡°discussion¡± on the thorny issue that had threatened to scupper the talks.
 |
|
Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, the South¡¯s chief negotiator in six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear weapons issue, takes questions from journalists upon his arrival at the Incheon International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
|
 |
|
The U.S. reiterated that the North must completely dismantle its nuclear weapons program before talks on the light-water nuclear reactor can begin. The U.S. State Department told reporters the six-party statement referred to the light-water reactor as a ¡°future issue¡± that should be taken up at an ¡°appropriate time.¡± When asked to define ¡°appropriate time,¡± U.S. officials said, ¡°When [North Korea] has rejoined the NPT and once again comes into compliance with IAEA stipulations.¡±
A senior South Korean official said the North Korean statement suggested Pyongyang was determined to get the maximum benefits it can from the agreement.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
