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SLUG: 2-302348 U-S / North Korea (S)
DATE: NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=4/18/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=U-S / NORTH KOREA (S) NUMBER=2-302348 BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S officials say plans are going ahead for three-way U-S-North Korean-Chinese talks in Beijing on North Korea's nuclear program next week. The plans are moving forward despite a claim from Pyongyang Friday that it is reprocessing spent fuel rods at its reopened nuclear reactor complex. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the State Department. TEXT: U-S intelligence has been keeping close watch on the Yongbyon reactor complex near the North Korean capital. And officials here say there is no information indicating that North Korea has begun reprocessing the fuel rods despite a claim by the North Korean foreign ministry Friday that such an operation is "successfully" under way. The fuel rods contain enough plutonium to build several nuclear weapons, and that potential threat is to be a key issue at the three-way talks that are expected to open in China late next week. A senior official here said he was aware of no change in travel plans by Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, who is to head the U-S delegation in Beijing. Mr. Kelly is preparing for that mission with talks here with officials from South Korea and Japan. The United States wants both of those countries included in any follow-on talks with North Korea aimed at ending its nuclear program. (Signed) NEB/DAG/RH |
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