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North Korea Claims Support From China
North Korea said Tuesday that it has received support from China for its proposal to freeze its nuclear weapons programs in return for free oil and other economic concessions from the United States. China signaled its support at a meeting in Beijing between North Koreaâs vice foreign minister, Kim Kye Gwan, and top Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.Arenât the Chinese great? Theyâre happy to give away our oil in return for nothing. The Chinese side "recognized the rationality" of Pyongyangâs proposal to help end the nuclear dispute, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman told KCNA. The United States, North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia are scheduled to begin talks on Feb. 25 over U.S. demands that North Korea dismantle its nuclear weapons programs in a "complete, irreversible and verifiable manner." North Korea has proposed to freeze all its nuclear activities, as a first step to resolving the nuclear dispute if the United States provides free oil shipments, lifts economic sanctions and removes the Communist country from its list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The Bush administration insists North Korea begin dismantling its nuclear programs before it makes concessions. China cautioned against expecting a swift resolution of the standoff, saying all sides should have "realistic" expectations about the upcoming talks. "The question is a very complicated one ... and we have different views about the issue," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday. She added that the sides "should not expect to solve the issue within one or two rounds of talks." "Even if we do give away their oil!" Posted by: Steve White 2004-02-11 |
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