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U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday welcomed North Korea¡¯s commitment in the latest round of six-nation talks to dismantle its nuclear facilities and declare all its nuclear programs by the end of the year. The Bush administration said it will discuss with Congress ways of striking North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism in return.
In a rare statement, Bush said the announcement ¡°reflects the common commitment of the participants in the six-party talks to realize a Korean Peninsula that is free of nuclear weapons.¡±
"Under the agreement reached today, North Korea has committed that by the end of 2007 it will provide a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs, nuclear weapons programs, materials, and any proliferation activity.¡±
"North Korea will get started on its commitment to disable all its existing nuclear facilities by disabling the core nuclear facilities at Yongbyon by the end of the year. North Korea also committed not to transfer nuclear materials, technology, or know-how beyond its borders."
It was the first time since the Feb. 13 denuclearization agreement that Bush issued a statement to welcome an accord reached in the six-party talks.
In a phone press conference the same day, chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said his government would begin consultations with U.S. Congress on Thursday on ways to strike North Korea from the list of terror sponsors. Hill said the U.S. will hold bilateral talks with North Korea next week to discuss details of the removal. He said he would convey his opinion to Congress on how to deal with the issue.
As for 950,000 tons of heavy fuel oil or its equivalent due to North Korea, Hill said part of it will be supplied in fuel oil, but the rest will be covered by "refurbishment of plants, of electricity plants, and also some increase in their storage capacity to handle fuel oil."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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