DATE=8/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237011
TITLE=NORTH KOREA/ NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNIFER VEALE
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREA THREATENED AGAIN (THURSDAY) TO RESTART ITS
FROZEN NUCLEAR PROGRAM. AS JENNIFER VEALE REPORTS FROM SEOUL THE
COMMUNIST NORTH SAYS IT MIGHT CARRY OUT THE THREAT IF WASHINGTON
FAILS TO DROP ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
TEXT: THE OFFICIAL NORTH KOREAN NEWS AGENCY QUOTED A FOREIGN
MINISTRY OFFICIAL AS SAYING WASHINGTON IS NOT FULFILLING ITS
TERMS OF THE 1994 AGREEMENT. UNDER THAT AGREEMENT NORTH KOREA
AGREED TO DISMANTLE ITS SUSPECTED NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN RETURN FOR
TWO PEACETIME NUCLEAR REACTORS.
THE ACCORD WAS REACHED AFTER TENSIONS BETWEEN PYONGYANG AND
WASHINGTON ALMOST PUT THE TWO ON A WAR FOOTING.
THE OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY SAID NORTH KOREA WOULD BE FORCED TO TAKE,
WHAT HE TERMED, THE UNDESIRABLE OPTION OF REACTIVATING NUCLEAR
FACILITIES UNLESS THE UNITED STATES MET ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE
ACCORD AND DROPPED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
THE UNITED STATES MAINTAINS ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST COMMUNIST
NORTH KOREA THAT VIRTUALLY PROHIBIT TRADE BETWEEN THE TWO.
ONGOING TALKS HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS ON REDUCING FRINGE
SANCTIONS, SUCH AS THE UNFREEZING OF NORTH KOREAN ASSETS IN THE
UNITED STATES, BUT MOST SANCTIONS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
IN RECENT MONTHS, IN PROTEST OF DELAYS IN THE DELIVERY OF FUEL
OIL TO POWER NORTH KOREA UNTIL THE REACTORS ARE COMPLETED,
PYONGYANG HAS REPEATEDLY DEMANDED THE U-S SCRAP SANCTIONS .
THE LATEST THREAT IS VIEWED BY POLITICAL OBSERVERS AS NORTH
KOREA'S WAY OF SAYING IT WILL RESUME REPROCESSING OF PLUTONIUM TO
WEAPONS-GRADE STATUS IF ITS DEMANDS ARE NOT MET.
THE NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL QUOTED BY STATE MEDIA SAID PYONGYANG
WOULD MAKE A DECISION NEXT WEEK, FOLLOWING TALKS WITH U-S
OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JV/GC/RAE
13-Aug-98 8:07 AM EDT (1207 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
