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North Koreaâs Kim Said Wonât Abandon Nukes
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told Chinese President Hu Jintao last month that Pyongyang was willing to freeze some of its nuclear programs but would not completely scrap them, a Japanese newspaper said on Monday. That stance is in line with North Koreaâs existing position and China is concerned that it could cause a confrontation at six-party, working-level talks to start on Wednesday in Beijing on Pyongyangâs nuclear programs, the Yomiuri Shimbun said. North Korea had agreed to join this weekâs meeting after the reclusive Kim made a rare visit to Beijing in April when he was quoted as telling Chinese leaders North Korea would be patient, flexible and engaged in six-party talks. In his talks with Hu on April 19, Kim said North Korea would not agree to demands by Japan, South Korea and the United States that it scrap its nuclear program in a complete, irreversible and verifiable manner, the Yomiuri reported, quoting Japanese government sources briefed by Chinese officials. Then all bets are off. Looks like that train explosion was just a warmup exercise after all. Kim also made it clear that North Korea was seeking a quid pro quo such as energy assistance in exchange for freezing its nuclear development, the newspaper said. Destroy the nuclear weapons first. Kimâs track record is worse than dismal. No aid or assistance of any sort until the atomic devices are surrendered. Otherwise, look forward to another winter of freezing starvation. The world cannot afford yet another fruitless spin on the dance floor with this four-flusher. "North Korea is taking part in six-party talks to discuss compensation for freezing its nuclear development," Kim was quoted as saying. Kim added that North Korea would "continue to carry out nuclear programs for peaceful purposes," indicating that Pyongyang would freeze only those nuclear programs that are for military use, the newspaper said. For such a deceitful ruler there is no such thing as "nuclear programs for peaceful purposes." China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States held two rounds of talks among senior officials on the Northâs nuclear arms programs in August 2003 and in February. But the talks made little progress on how North Koreaâs nuclear programs might be dismantled and its energy and security concerns addressed. Somehow, Chinaâs own credibility and prestige must be made to hinge upon them properly defusing the North Korean crisis. The PRC has provided aid and technology that specifically augmented North Koreaâs threat to the region. China must now pay the piper for sowing such unrest. Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-10 |
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