Anarch
12-03-2005, 02:12 PM
N. Korea Sets Nuclear-Program Conditions
By KWANG-TAE KIM, Associated Press Writer Fri Dec 2,12:03 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear_3
SEOUL, South Korea - North Koreawould consider dismantling its nuclear weapons program if its relations with the United States, Japan and South Korean improved, China's envoy to Seoul said Friday.
Ambassador Ning Fukui said "three keys" are needed for the North to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, the most important of which is the establishment of mutual trust between the United States and North Korea.
The other two priorities are normalizing relations with Japan and improving relations with South Korea, he said.
"I believe that North Korea is willing to scrap its nuclear weapons," Ning told Park Geun-hye, leader of South Korea's main opposition Grand National Party, according to a party statement.
Six-nation nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States that began in 2003 have failed to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its weapons programs.
The North has attempted to justify its nuclear weapons program, saying it serves as a deterrent against a U.S. attack. Washington has repeatedly said it has no intention of invading the communist country, but distrust between the two governments runs deep.
Washington has accused eight North Korean companies of acting as fronts for sales of banned missile, nuclear or biological weapons technology. The U.S. also recently slapped sanctions on eight companies it suspected of involvement in counterfeiting and money-laundering on behalf of the Stalinist state.
Pyongyang has denied those claims, as well as accusations that North Korea produces high quality counterfeit $100 bills known as "supernotes."
In September, the North agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees and energy aid, but cast doubt on the breakthrough a day later by insisting it receive a nuclear power reactor before it disarms.
The fifth and latest session of the talks recessed last month with participants agreeing to meet again at an early, though as yet unspecified, date.
By KWANG-TAE KIM, Associated Press Writer Fri Dec 2,12:03 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear_3
SEOUL, South Korea - North Koreawould consider dismantling its nuclear weapons program if its relations with the United States, Japan and South Korean improved, China's envoy to Seoul said Friday.
Ambassador Ning Fukui said "three keys" are needed for the North to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, the most important of which is the establishment of mutual trust between the United States and North Korea.
The other two priorities are normalizing relations with Japan and improving relations with South Korea, he said.
"I believe that North Korea is willing to scrap its nuclear weapons," Ning told Park Geun-hye, leader of South Korea's main opposition Grand National Party, according to a party statement.
Six-nation nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States that began in 2003 have failed to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its weapons programs.
The North has attempted to justify its nuclear weapons program, saying it serves as a deterrent against a U.S. attack. Washington has repeatedly said it has no intention of invading the communist country, but distrust between the two governments runs deep.
Washington has accused eight North Korean companies of acting as fronts for sales of banned missile, nuclear or biological weapons technology. The U.S. also recently slapped sanctions on eight companies it suspected of involvement in counterfeiting and money-laundering on behalf of the Stalinist state.
Pyongyang has denied those claims, as well as accusations that North Korea produces high quality counterfeit $100 bills known as "supernotes."
In September, the North agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees and energy aid, but cast doubt on the breakthrough a day later by insisting it receive a nuclear power reactor before it disarms.
The fifth and latest session of the talks recessed last month with participants agreeing to meet again at an early, though as yet unspecified, date.