ID :
23871
Sat, 10/11/2008 - 10:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23871
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean envoy expects U.S. to delist N. Korea
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean ambassador Lee Tae-sik, citing negotiations under way, said Friday that he expects the United States will soon remove North Korea from its terrorism blacklist.
"I expect such a result (for delisting) will come out as close consultations are
under way," Lee told a group of South Korean lawmakers who are here for an annual
parliamentary inspection of the South Korean mission in Washington. "I cannot
talk about the outcome prematurely, but I understand that things are going in
that direction."
Lee made his remarks one day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said
she might be able to make an announcement on the matter in several days after
consultations with "my colleagues."
The ambassador said the talks hinge on "how sincerely North Korea will agree to
the verification regime."
Reports said Washington will soon lift Pyongyang from a list of state sponsors of
terrorism as Christopher Hill, chief U.S. nuclear envoy, presented a compromise
measure in Pyongyang last week to verify North Korea's plutonium-based nuclear
facilities first before moving to the more controversial uranium-based program
and nuclear proliferation.
Pyongyang has been adamant that it will not agree to Washington's demand for
unlimited access to its nuclear facilities, which it said would be a violation of
its sovereignty, although it is ready to accept verification of its plutonium
facilities.
U.S. officials have said for the past days that North Korea should agree to a
verification protocol before getting removed from the blacklist.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday, "What we have said, and which
hasn't changed, is that a verification protocol is essential to them getting to
be able to come off the terrorism list."
On the reports on the separation of the plutonium from the uranium and
proliferation issues, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also said
Thursday, "Whether that's plutonium or HEU or any proliferation-related
activities, we have an equal level of concern about all of those various areas."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean ambassador Lee Tae-sik, citing negotiations under way, said Friday that he expects the United States will soon remove North Korea from its terrorism blacklist.
"I expect such a result (for delisting) will come out as close consultations are
under way," Lee told a group of South Korean lawmakers who are here for an annual
parliamentary inspection of the South Korean mission in Washington. "I cannot
talk about the outcome prematurely, but I understand that things are going in
that direction."
Lee made his remarks one day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said
she might be able to make an announcement on the matter in several days after
consultations with "my colleagues."
The ambassador said the talks hinge on "how sincerely North Korea will agree to
the verification regime."
Reports said Washington will soon lift Pyongyang from a list of state sponsors of
terrorism as Christopher Hill, chief U.S. nuclear envoy, presented a compromise
measure in Pyongyang last week to verify North Korea's plutonium-based nuclear
facilities first before moving to the more controversial uranium-based program
and nuclear proliferation.
Pyongyang has been adamant that it will not agree to Washington's demand for
unlimited access to its nuclear facilities, which it said would be a violation of
its sovereignty, although it is ready to accept verification of its plutonium
facilities.
U.S. officials have said for the past days that North Korea should agree to a
verification protocol before getting removed from the blacklist.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday, "What we have said, and which
hasn't changed, is that a verification protocol is essential to them getting to
be able to come off the terrorism list."
On the reports on the separation of the plutonium from the uranium and
proliferation issues, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also said
Thursday, "Whether that's plutonium or HEU or any proliferation-related
activities, we have an equal level of concern about all of those various areas."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
