North Korea Complains About ASEAN Interference
VOA News
19 Jun 2003, 13:21 UTC
North Korea has accused Asia's top security group of bowing to U.S. pressure to interfere in Pyongyang's internal affairs. The North Korean statement, issued in Phnom Penh Thursday, followed a meeting of the 23-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Regional Forum. At the meeting, the group urged that Pyongyang reverse its decision to withdraw from the global treaty designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Speakers including U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell demanded that North Korea give up its nuclear development program. In response, the North Korean delegation said resolution of the nuclear issue depends entirely on the United States abandoning what Pyongyang calls its "hostile policy" toward the North. The delegation also complained that North Korea's position was not reflected in discussions at the Phnom Penh meeting.
Meanwhile, South Korea says it believes this is not the right time for a United Nations Security Council debate on the North Korean nuclear issue. The United States announced Wednesday that it will make a new effort to get the Council to condemn Pyongyang's nuclear development.
Washington's U.N. ambassador, John Negroponte, said he has opened talks with key Council members on the possibility of drawing up a statement to declare North Korea out of compliance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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