ID :
20226
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 20:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20226
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean FM questions Pyongyang`s commitment to denuclearization By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign minister said Friday that North
Korea's commitment to the denuclearization process remains uncertain, citing its
ongoing move to restart a main nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
"It is unclear whether North Korea's measure is intended to return the situation
to where it was prior to the disabling work, or whether it is another bargaining
move," Yu Myung-hwan said in a luncheon meeting with foreign correspondents here.
The minister's comments came shortly after a North Korean diplomat openly
admitted that Pyongyang is preparing to reassemble the plutonium-producing
reactor that had been disabled under its deal with South Korea, the U.S., China,
Russia, and Japan.
"Thorough preparations for the restoration work are under way," Hyon Hak-bong,
deputy chief of the U.S. affairs bureau at the North's Foreign Ministry told
South Korean reporters before the inter-Korean talks on energy aid. Hyon led the
North's delegation to the one-day working group meeting held at the truce village
of Panmunjom.
When asked about the timing of the full-scale restoration, he only said, "You
will get to know soon."
His ministry announced on Aug. 26 that the disabling of the Yongbyon reactor had
been halted and it would be restarted if the U.S. continues to drag its feet on a
promise to take Pyongyang off the list of terrorism-sponsoring nations.
Hyon said the U.S. should stop making "unacceptable" demands for verifying North
Korea's recent nuclear declaration.
The South Korean foreign minister pointed out that the verification and the
removal from the terror list are not separate issues.
"This doesn't mean that the verification has to be completed before North Korea
is de-listed, but that the principality of the verification method be established
first," he said.
Yu emphasized the urgency of establishing a workable verification regime, with
the U.S. presidential elections less than two months away.
He was guarded about the reports of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's ailment.
"It is not appropriate to publicly define the characteristics of an intelligence
matter," he said.
Korea's commitment to the denuclearization process remains uncertain, citing its
ongoing move to restart a main nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
"It is unclear whether North Korea's measure is intended to return the situation
to where it was prior to the disabling work, or whether it is another bargaining
move," Yu Myung-hwan said in a luncheon meeting with foreign correspondents here.
The minister's comments came shortly after a North Korean diplomat openly
admitted that Pyongyang is preparing to reassemble the plutonium-producing
reactor that had been disabled under its deal with South Korea, the U.S., China,
Russia, and Japan.
"Thorough preparations for the restoration work are under way," Hyon Hak-bong,
deputy chief of the U.S. affairs bureau at the North's Foreign Ministry told
South Korean reporters before the inter-Korean talks on energy aid. Hyon led the
North's delegation to the one-day working group meeting held at the truce village
of Panmunjom.
When asked about the timing of the full-scale restoration, he only said, "You
will get to know soon."
His ministry announced on Aug. 26 that the disabling of the Yongbyon reactor had
been halted and it would be restarted if the U.S. continues to drag its feet on a
promise to take Pyongyang off the list of terrorism-sponsoring nations.
Hyon said the U.S. should stop making "unacceptable" demands for verifying North
Korea's recent nuclear declaration.
The South Korean foreign minister pointed out that the verification and the
removal from the terror list are not separate issues.
"This doesn't mean that the verification has to be completed before North Korea
is de-listed, but that the principality of the verification method be established
first," he said.
Yu emphasized the urgency of establishing a workable verification regime, with
the U.S. presidential elections less than two months away.
He was guarded about the reports of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's ailment.
"It is not appropriate to publicly define the characteristics of an intelligence
matter," he said.