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SLUG: 2-298220 North Korea / N-P-T Withdrawal (L)
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DATE=01/10/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=NORTH KOREA / N-P-T WITHDRAWAL (L) NUMBER=2-298220 BYLINE=AMY BICKERS DATELINE=TOKYO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: North Korea has announced that it is pulling out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty immediately and will not let U-N nuclear inspectors back into the country. V-O-A Northeast Asia Correspondent Amy Bickers has more on Friday's developments in the growing crisis over the communist country's nuclear ambitions.
TEXT: North Korea made good Friday on its threat to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty -- a step widely viewed as a serious escalation of the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The official Korean Central News Agency said that Pyongyang has pulled out of the pact -- but insisted it would not develop nuclear weapons, only pursue energy projects. /// OPT /// The N-P-T is an international treaty that aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology and promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy. A total of 188 countries have signed it. /// END OPT /// North Korea also rejected a resolution by the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency earlier this week when it ordered Pyongyang to readmit the monitors it kicked out on December 31st. The government news agency says Pyongyang vehemently rejects the I-A-E-A demand, considering it a grave encroachment upon its sovereignty and dignity. It also accuses the United States of using the U-N nuclear watchdog as a tool for executing hostile policy toward the North and threatening sanctions. The withdrawal comes as two North Korean diplomats begin talks with New Mexico's state governor, Bill Richardson, to discuss the nuclear stand-off. Mr. Richardson was a U-N ambassador during the Clinton administration, who has previously negotiated with the North Korean government. He hosted the two Thursday evening in an unofficial capacity and is set to meet with them again on Friday. State Department officials say the North Korean diplomats may tell Governor Richardson whether Pyongyang will accept this week's U-S offer to hold direct talks on the dispute. After diplomatic meetings with South Korea and Japan, the Bush Administration shifted its policy that initially called for no contact with the North until it halted its nuclear activities. But Washington insists it will offer no concessions to get North Korea to live up to its international commitments. North Korea stunned the world in December by moving to reactivate the Yongbyon nuclear facility, capable of producing weapons grade plutonium. A flurry of diplomatic activity involving the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia, China and other nations has taken place to encourage a peaceful resolution to the crisis. /// REST OPT /// In 1993, North Korea also announced that it was withdrawing from the treaty, but later suspended the decision and entered talks with the United States. The result was their Agreed Framework accord in which the North would receive energy aid in exchange for giving up its nuclear program. Both nations now accuse each other of violating the pact. (SIGNED)
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