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Korea |
China, North Korea Agree to Discuss Nukes |
2003-10-31 |
China and North Korea agreed ``in principle’’ Thursday to convene a second round of six-nation talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear program, further evidence of an increased diplomatic role for Beijing in the yearlong dispute. "Sit! Stay!" The reports were welcomed by the United States, which said the ``multiparty process’’ offered the "Heel!" South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Friday he expects the new talks to convene ``soon,’’ although he did not mention any date.``This is a very positive progress, and I have confidence that the North Korean nuclear issue will eventually be resolved through multilateral dialogue,’’ Roh said at a peace forum on South Korea’s southern island of Jeju. "Please? I’m trying to save my job here. Please?" Word of the accord came after a meeting between Kim Jong Il, the North’s reclusive leader, and Wu Bangguo, the most senior Chinese to visit North Korea since 2001. In its national evening newscast, China Central Television showed Wu, head of China’s legislature and its No. 2 communist, shaking hands with a smiling Kim. Wu is on a three-day ``goodwill’’ visit as China tries to ensure another round of the six-nation summit held in Beijing in August. ``Both sides agreed in principle that the six-way talks should continue,’’ CCTV’s anchorwoman said. ``China and North Korea support the idea of a peaceful resolution to the North Korean issue through dialogue.’’ Interesting that Chinese television aired this first. Perhaps the Chinese are sending a message, as in "this is the deal and don’t you dare back out"? The official news agencies of North Korea and China confirmed the report. Pyongyang’s KCNA used slightly more tentative language, however, saying the sides ``agreed in principle to pursue the course of the six-way talks.’’ "C’mon! That choker chain is tight! Loosen up will ya?" KCNA said the North ``expressed its willingness to take part in the future talks if they provide a process of putting into practice the proposal for a package solution based on the principle of simultaneous actions.’’ North Korea has previously said that ``simultaneous actions’’ include economic and humanitarian aid from the United States, the opening of diplomatic ties and the building of a nuclear power plant. It also demands a signed nonaggression treaty - something the Bush administration has thus far refused. In exchange, North Korea has said it would declare its willingness to give up nuclear development, allow nuclear inspections, give up missiles exports and finally dismantle its nuclear weapons facilities. Give up missile exports? Is that a new concession? They can’t be serious, it’s the only foreign exchange generator they have other than white slag. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the United States was ``encouraged’’ by the reports that North Korea had agreed in principle to six-nation talks. McClellan reiterated the United States was still interested in providing some kind of security assurance to North Korea - an alternative to the nonaggression treaty the North seeks. ``But North Korea must end its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable, irreversible way Wu made hand-puppets showing a rabbit swinging in a noose. China, which has gently pressed the issue of further discussions, has stepped up the rhetoric with Wu’s trip. Earlier Thursday, China’s official Xinhua News Agency quoted Wu as saying that ``adherence to dialogue should be the correct direction’’ to end the standoff. "Heel! Heel I say!" And Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue, at a regular briefing the same day, reiterated: ``We want to hold this round of six-party talks as soon as possible.’’ "We’re getting tired of supporting these crazy guys!" |
Posted by:Steve White |
#1 Boy, would I have liked to have been a fly on the wall during those discussions. |
Posted by: Anonymous-not above 2003-10-31 11:12:27 AM |