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China-Japan-Koreas
NKorea set to miss nuclear deadline
2007-12-31
North Korea appeared set Monday to miss a year-end deadline to disable a key nuclear reactor and declare all its nuclear programs, key elements of its disarmament as agreed to in an international accord.
Boy, there's a surprise.
The U.S., Japan and South Korea expressed disappointment. But there was no indication that North Korea would immediately face any sanction — suggesting countries involved in negotiating the agreement were reluctant to raise tensions after a year of progress in the long-standing dispute.

... diplomats have said the North is likely to miss the year-end deadline for disablement because a key step — removing fuel rods from the reactor — could take several months.
The communist country promised in October to disable its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, and give a full accounting of its nuclear programs by Dec. 31 in return for energy aid and political concessions. The North shut down the plutonium-producing facility in July and disablement work is under way in cooperation with U.S. experts.

But diplomats have said the North is likely to miss the year-end deadline for disablement because a key step — removing fuel rods from the reactor — could take several months. South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon has said there would also be problems in meeting the deadline for disclosure.
No one figured this out before now? C'mon, pull my other finger.
There was no immediate comment from North Korea on Monday. Last week, a North Korean official complained of delays in the delivery of economic aid and said the country would have no choice but to slow disablement.
And if that excuse wasn't handy, they'd come up with another one.
Song, however, downplayed the remarks and said the disablement work was going well.

The United States, which has said it was not aware of delays in delivering aid to the North, criticized the country's failure to disclose its nuclear programs. "It is unfortunate that North Korea never meets has not yet met its commitments by providing a complete and correct declaration of its nuclear programs and slowing down the process of disablement," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Sunday. "We urge North Korea to deliver a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear weapons programs and proliferation activities and complete the agreed disablement," he said.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry pressed the North as well. "Our government urges North Korea to faithfully declare all nuclear programs at an early date and complete disablement steps without delay," the ministry said in a statement.
Oh yaaaasssss, 'urge' and 'press' them! That's worked so well in the past.
Japan also expressed regret that the North appeared set to miss the deadline, and urged the regime to declare its nuclear programs immediately. "North Korea must provide a complete and accurate declaration of all its nuclear programs at the earliest possible date, and make swift and solid progress in disabling its three nuclear facilities at Yongbyon," Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement released Monday.

Reasons for the delay in declaring the nuclear programs appear related in part to the country's suspected uranium enrichment program. Song has said that more consultation was required on the alleged program.
I'll bet the threat of a 2000# JDAM being dropped on Kimmie's head would pop that fuel right out of that reactor and a copy of NorK's "complete and correct" declaration sitting on ElBadaguy's desk in the morning.
Posted by:gorb

#4  I wonder what the conversation will look like after the newly elected, conservative Prime Minister takes office.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-12-31 16:47  

#3  I get the feling we need to fire ALL "negotiators" (Our side) and send someone who says "By thursday, or vapor cloud" AND THEN DO IT, once should be enough to put this crap to a permanent stop.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2007-12-31 14:00  

#2  Technical problems or foot dragging?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2007-12-31 12:54  

#1  Anyone here surprised? Anyone? Bueller?
Posted by: PBMcL   2007-12-31 10:30  

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