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SLUG: 2-299572 IAEA /North Korea Update
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DATE=2/12/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=IAEA / NORTH KOREA UPDATE (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-299572 BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY DATELINE=VIENNA CONTENT= ///EDS: UPDATES CR 2-299550 WITH IAEA DECISION, ELBARADEI ACT/// VOICED AT: INTRO: The International Atomic Energy Agency is referring the dispute with North Korea on its nuclear program to the U-N Security Council in a decision welcomed by President Bush. Melanie Sully reports from IAEA's headquarters in Vienna the decision was made at an emergency board meeting. TEXT: The 35-member board of the I-A-E-A has decided that the Security Council must now decide how to resolve the nuclear standoff with North Korea. All countries voting, voted yes, except Russia and Cuba, which abstained (EDS: South Korea applied, but is not a member of the board). The agency said Pyongyang remains in defiance of its obligations under global treaties, despite repeated appeals for co-operation. At the beginning of the year, the I-A-E-A called on North Korea to allow its inspectors back into the country to monitor the reactivation of a nuclear facility at Yongbyon. Instead of responding positively, North Korea unilaterally declared its intention to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Director General of the I-A-E-A, Mohamed ElBaradei, said Wednesday that the international community should have "zero tolerance" for all countries that do not comply with the non-proliferation rules. ///ELBARADEI ACTUALITY/// The current situation clearly sets a dangerous precedent because what we are trying to do is to make sure in fact the NPT becomes universal in character rather than open the door for countries to walk away from non-proliferation and arms control obligations ///END ACT/// An emergency meeting of the board was postponed earlier in the month to give diplomatic initiatives by South Korea a chance to succeed. But North Korea says it is only interested in bilateral talks with the United States. The Japanese delegation told the Wednesday's I-A-E-A board meeting that the agency's inability to monitor North Korea's nuclear ambitions poses a threat to North East Asia and the international community. The United States is concerned that North Korea will produce weapons grade plutonium for its own use, or for sale. In a statement, the Russian delegation said sending the matter to the Security Council is premature and could be counter-productive. Russia says there should be direct talks between the United States and North Korea. The U-N Security Council could punish North Korea with sanctions, something Pyongjang says would be tantamount to an act of war. (Signed) NEB/MS/AWP/MAR/FC |
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