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N.Korea Rejects U.S. Demand for Nuclear Dismantlement
Thu May 13, 2004 01:43 PM ET BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea said on Friday it would not be able to continue discussing possible solutions to a nuclear standoff unless the United States dropped demands for a complete dismantlement of the Northâs nuclear arms programs. It is impossible to believe that North Korea does not understand how this is the ultimate deal-breaker. Pak Myong-kuk, a North Korean delegate to working group talks in Beijing, said Pyongyang was prepared to discuss the scope, timing and the length of a freeze of its nuclear activities and methods of verifying it. Weâve already seen the results of North Korean promises to "freeze" their nuclear activities. It can only be assumed that covert weapons development continues at present and would continue to happen during any putative freeze. "But the United States repeated its position that it would be willing to discuss the problem only under the precondition that we pledge a CVID," Pak said at a news conference. CVID refers to a complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of the nuclear programs. The working-level talks were set up at the second round of six-country talks in February. China has hosted the talks by the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia. Iâve yet to see China put anything on the table in the way of penalties should North Korea not comply. At some point this albatross needs to be hung right around Chinaâs extremely culpable neck. "We expressed the position that we would not be able to continue discussing a freeze for compensation," he said. But Pak left the door open for further discussions, including another round of talks scheduled for later on Friday, saying it would continue the process with patience. "Patience" from Americaâs standpoint can only be interpreted as weakness in this matter. There needs to be made clear a well established scale of repercussions should there not be immediate steps towards a dismantling of North Koreaâs nuclear program. A full maritime blockade of their nation and interdiction of air traffic needs to happen. These lying morons need to be starved out and winter is not coming soon enough. No one can afford to have more missile technology shipped to Iran or other rogue nations. Beside state sponsored distribution of narcotics, this seems to be one of their only other channels of hard currency intake. North Koreaâs proliferation of missile technology alone is sufficiently destabilizing, their nuclear aspirations are merely (vehement) insult to injury. Iâm interested to hear what other members at this site would consider to be appropriate and productive counter-measures that could be taken against North Korea. Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-13 |
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