Home > NK Commits to Dismantling Nukes Verifiably
Nuclear Wars and conflicts International
By Park Song-wu
Korea Times Correspondent
BEIJING
North Korea reportedly promised Wednesday that it could verifiably'' liquidate all of its nuclear weapons programs should Washington remove itsnuclear threat’’ on the Korean Peninsula and normalize its diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.
Pyongyang did not say whether it would accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, Pyongyang’s chief delegate to the six-party talks, apparently made this remark at a plenary session, in which six top delegates from each of the six nations delivered keynote speeches.
During the session, North Korea reportedly asked for an implementation of the words for words'' principle and proposed that participating countries reach an agreement on how to turn the Korean Peninsula into anuclear-free zone.’’
In an effort toward this realization, Kim reportedly said that Washington should withdraw its nuclear umbrella'' from South Korea.
It was also learned that Pyongyang requested Washington abandon its hostile policies of attempting a regime change in North Korea and establish a legal mechanism for a peaceful coexistence.
Song Min-soon, South Korea's top envoy to the nuclear talks, told reporters that he had a meeting with Kim after the plenary session in an effort to clarify North Korea's stance by checking Kim's keynote speechline by line.’’
By holding the talks, we could clearly understand what was previously ambiguous in the keynote speech,'' Song said.I believe we can narrow our differences by holding more bilateral talks.’’
He declined to elaborate on the contents of keynote speeches.
Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation reportedly said that Washington will undertake to normalize relations'' with North Korea if Pyongyang dismantles all existing nuclear weapons programs in an effective and verifiable manner.
It was learned that Washington's top delegate Christopher Hill called North Korean leader Kim Jong-ilchairman’’ of the National Defense Commission.
Hill reportedly promised that follow-up measures, such as multiple security assurances and economic cooperation programs _ allowing investment in or trade with North Korea _ could be provided to the Communist state if it meets the world’s demand for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
But the U.S. reportedly underlined that participating countries will have to address other issues, such as North Korea’s missile programs and poor human rights record. He allegedly said that such a move will go ahead on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
In his keynote speech, Song expressed Seoul’s hope that participating countries should focus on the talks’ main topic _ denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a Seoul official said.
Song also brought up the need to adopt a joint statement this time, the official said. He reportedly said that Seoul hopes to include its recent offer of energy aid to Pyongyang in the joint statement. The South Korean envoy reassured the North of its offer to provide a stable supply of electricity if Pyongyang keeps its promise to scrap all nuclear programs, according to the official.
In return for Seoul’s efforts, Song requested that other participating countries come up with a constructive'' approach to normalize diplomatic relations with North Korea, the official said.
Washington and Tokyo reportedly announced that they could establish diplomatic ties with Pyongyang if it gives up all nuclear programs. To that end, the U.S. has hoped that North Korea could improve its human rights situation, while Tokyo has urged Pyongyang to come to terms with theabductee issue.’’
The Japanese delegation reportedly made it clear that Tokyo wants other issues, involving North Korea’s missile program and human rights abuses, to also be included in the envisioned joint statement as a precondition to normalizing its relations with Pyongyang.
It has been learned that Tokyo promised to pick up corresponding measures, such as providing Pyongyang with a ``great deal’’ of economic aid, if the North gives up its nuclear programs.