ID :
20292
Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20292
The shortlink copeid
US urges N. Korea not to restart nuclear reactor
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- The United States Friday urged North Korea not to restart its nuclear reactor that it disabled under a multilateral aid-for-denuclearization deal.
In a daily briefing, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Pyongyang is
preparing to operate the disabled reactor and is "getting closer ... to the point
of operationalizing Yongbyon again."
"They haven't gotten to that point yet, and we would urge them not to get to that
point," he said.
North Korea earlier in the day said it has begun rebuilding its nuclear reactor,
which it had disabled under a six-party deal in exchange for energy aid and other
political benefits.
The North's Foreign Ministry said it has "suspended the disablement of its
nuclear facilities, and work has been underway to restore its nuclear facilities
in Yongbyon to their original state since some time ago."
The North also said it is no longer interested in being removed from the U.S.
list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programs hit a snag in recent
months as North Korea threatened to restart its disabled nuclear reactor, citing
Washington's refusal to lift it from a U.S. terrorism blacklist.
The U.S. wants the North to present a verification protocol on its nuclear
programs before delisting the communist state, while Pyongyang has denounced
Washington for demanding unfettered access to its nuclear and other facilities.
"I don't think we're to the point yet of their having fully reversed what they
have done, but they are continuing to move that direction," McCormack said.
The spokesman reiterated Washington's position that Pyongyang agree to a
verification plan for its nuclear programs before the U.S. takes any action on
the blacklist.
"We're looking for the output, looking for the verification regime," he said.
"We, as well as others, continue to be in contact with them, urge them to get to
the point where they approve that verification regime."
He said North Korea can improve ties with the U.S. and other Western countries
only after it has scrapped its nuclear programs as stated in the multilateral
nuclear deal.
"As always, throughout this process, they have a choice," he said. "They can go
down the pathway of having a different kind of relationship with the rest of the
world, receiving the benefits of that relationship, or they can keep themselves
isolated, move the process backwards."
South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Kim Sook, is to fly to New York Sunday to meet
with his U.S. counterpart Christopher Hill, the assistant secretary of state,
over ways to break the deadlock on the verification protocol.
hdh@yna.co.kr
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- The United States Friday urged North Korea not to restart its nuclear reactor that it disabled under a multilateral aid-for-denuclearization deal.
In a daily briefing, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Pyongyang is
preparing to operate the disabled reactor and is "getting closer ... to the point
of operationalizing Yongbyon again."
"They haven't gotten to that point yet, and we would urge them not to get to that
point," he said.
North Korea earlier in the day said it has begun rebuilding its nuclear reactor,
which it had disabled under a six-party deal in exchange for energy aid and other
political benefits.
The North's Foreign Ministry said it has "suspended the disablement of its
nuclear facilities, and work has been underway to restore its nuclear facilities
in Yongbyon to their original state since some time ago."
The North also said it is no longer interested in being removed from the U.S.
list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programs hit a snag in recent
months as North Korea threatened to restart its disabled nuclear reactor, citing
Washington's refusal to lift it from a U.S. terrorism blacklist.
The U.S. wants the North to present a verification protocol on its nuclear
programs before delisting the communist state, while Pyongyang has denounced
Washington for demanding unfettered access to its nuclear and other facilities.
"I don't think we're to the point yet of their having fully reversed what they
have done, but they are continuing to move that direction," McCormack said.
The spokesman reiterated Washington's position that Pyongyang agree to a
verification plan for its nuclear programs before the U.S. takes any action on
the blacklist.
"We're looking for the output, looking for the verification regime," he said.
"We, as well as others, continue to be in contact with them, urge them to get to
the point where they approve that verification regime."
He said North Korea can improve ties with the U.S. and other Western countries
only after it has scrapped its nuclear programs as stated in the multilateral
nuclear deal.
"As always, throughout this process, they have a choice," he said. "They can go
down the pathway of having a different kind of relationship with the rest of the
world, receiving the benefits of that relationship, or they can keep themselves
isolated, move the process backwards."
South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Kim Sook, is to fly to New York Sunday to meet
with his U.S. counterpart Christopher Hill, the assistant secretary of state,
over ways to break the deadlock on the verification protocol.
hdh@yna.co.kr
