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In effort to resume stalled six-way talks on eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons program, the U.S. may soon put forward a package deal that includes easing financial sanctions on North Korea. Government sources said that the deal includes unfreezing North Korea¡¯s accounts with the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia (BDA).
¡ß Unfreezing BDA funds part of package deal
A government official said that the goal of the six-way talks is to persuade North Korea to totally scrap its nuclear weapons, not just halt Pyongyang¡¯s nuclear program. The U.S. has changed its stance and is leaving a side door open as the North has maintained that there would be no progress in the talks if its accounts with the Macau bank remain frozen.
In making the six-party talks workable, the easiest way for North Korea is to turn off a 5-MW nuclear reactor, which is now in operation. Such a task would not be difficult for Pyongyang. North Korea turned off the reactor in 1994 and put it back into operation again in 2003.
For the U.S., including the BDA issue in the deal means unfreezing North Korean accounts worth US$10-13 million, which are assumed to be legal. The U.S. froze North Korea¡¯s accounts with the Macau-based bank, accusing them of being used for illegal activities like money laundering.
Nam Sung-wook, a North Korean studies professor at Korea University, said that the U.S. will be able to continue its investigation into other accounts even if it unfreezes the accounts in question. Unfreezing the accounts would not be a serious loss of face for the U.S., because they can say that the measure was merited by the results of their investigation.
¡ß Agreement on roadmap is uncertain
Foreign Minister Song Min-soon said it is uncertain if an agreement would be reached and it is difficult to predict how much progress might be made in the next round of talks.
Another government official said that the U.S. wants a roadmap stipulating the detailed process of the disposal of the nuclear program. However, it is uncertain whether the North would accept such a term. It is also uncertain if North Korea and the U.S. can agree on a phase-by-phase abandonment plan and a corresponding rewards program through just one or two sets of negotiations.
Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korea studies at Dongguk University, said that the best expected result of the next round of talks is a promise from the North to halt the operation of its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon and the re-admittance of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. In return, the U.S. would agree to resume food and economic aid and document its promise to guarantee the security of North Korea.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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