ID :
35970
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 18:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/35970
The shortlink copeid
China hints it will continue energy aid to N. Korea
BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- China said Tuesday that failure to reach an understanding on the verification protocol for North Korea's nuclear facilities is not sufficient cause to halt energy aid.
"The Oct. 3 agreement outlines 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil in exchange for
North Korea agreeing to disable its Yongbyon nuclear plant," said Foreign
Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao. He added that people must carefully examine the
wording of the existing deal.
The remark can be viewed as a rebuttal of U.S. claims linking verification with
fuel aid.
Under a deal signed last year, North Korea is to get heavy fuel oil from the
U.S., China, South Korea, Russia and Japan in return for disabling its nuclear
facilities. Only about half of the promised aid has been delivered.
Washington said that it will provide no further energy shipments unless the North
agrees to a complete protocol for verification of its nuclear facilities.
"We've talked to the other four parties about this issue, and I think, in the
absence of an approved verification protocol, it's going to be hard to go forward
with future fuel shipments," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Monday.
However, the Russian government said last week that it did not agreed to suspend
heavy fuel oil shipments, refuting Washington's claim that all five nations will
cut off energy aid without a verification regime. Meanwhile, the North threatened
to slow the disabling of its nuclear facilities if energy shipments discontinue.
The sampling issue has been the latest stumbling block in the talks that have
been ongoing for over five years. The North has balked at allowing inspectors to
take samples from its main nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
In the latest round of six-party talks in Beijing last week, Pyongyang said it
will not agree to sampling until the late stages of dismantlement, citing a
"hostile" U.S. attitude.
Dismantlement is the third and final phase of the aid-for-denuclearization deal.
The six parties are currently discussing the second phase -- disabling of the
North's nuclear facilities.
In the last phase, the North is to get hefty economic aid and diplomatic
recognition by Washington and its allies in return for abandoning its nuclear
ambitions.
(END)
"The Oct. 3 agreement outlines 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil in exchange for
North Korea agreeing to disable its Yongbyon nuclear plant," said Foreign
Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao. He added that people must carefully examine the
wording of the existing deal.
The remark can be viewed as a rebuttal of U.S. claims linking verification with
fuel aid.
Under a deal signed last year, North Korea is to get heavy fuel oil from the
U.S., China, South Korea, Russia and Japan in return for disabling its nuclear
facilities. Only about half of the promised aid has been delivered.
Washington said that it will provide no further energy shipments unless the North
agrees to a complete protocol for verification of its nuclear facilities.
"We've talked to the other four parties about this issue, and I think, in the
absence of an approved verification protocol, it's going to be hard to go forward
with future fuel shipments," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Monday.
However, the Russian government said last week that it did not agreed to suspend
heavy fuel oil shipments, refuting Washington's claim that all five nations will
cut off energy aid without a verification regime. Meanwhile, the North threatened
to slow the disabling of its nuclear facilities if energy shipments discontinue.
The sampling issue has been the latest stumbling block in the talks that have
been ongoing for over five years. The North has balked at allowing inspectors to
take samples from its main nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
In the latest round of six-party talks in Beijing last week, Pyongyang said it
will not agree to sampling until the late stages of dismantlement, citing a
"hostile" U.S. attitude.
Dismantlement is the third and final phase of the aid-for-denuclearization deal.
The six parties are currently discussing the second phase -- disabling of the
North's nuclear facilities.
In the last phase, the North is to get hefty economic aid and diplomatic
recognition by Washington and its allies in return for abandoning its nuclear
ambitions.
(END)
