U.S. Wants Nuke Program Halt by 2008

It was reported that U.S. asked North Korea to completely dismantle its nuclear program by the end of 2008 at a preliminary meeting regarding the resumption of six-party talks held in Beijing on November 28-29. According to diplomatic sources, the U.S. is said to have told the North that Pyongyang must finish implementing its pledges, including eliminating its nuclear program, from the September 19 joint declaration agreed at the fourth round of six-party talks by 2008, and that the U.S. will impose additional sanctions if North Korea refuses to do so.

Demands by the U.S. can be interpreted as the U.S. trying to complete the dismantling of the North nuclear weapons program as soon as possible based on the judgment that freezing the North nuclear program is meaningless when it already has 40 to 50 kilograms of plutonium.

The U.S. is trying to take steps concerning the nuclear program as quickly as possible after the six-party talks resume by setting a time limit for North Korea to finish dismantling its nuclear program at the earliest possible date, since it takes more than one year to get rid of nuclear weapons.

Japan Kyodo News reported from Washington that Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian Pacific Affairs, conveyed the above suggestion to Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan of North Korea at the representatives?meeting of the six-party talks. The suggestion was agreed by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan and approved by China.

However, Vice Foreign Minister Kim didn give an immediate reply, saying that he will report the U.S. proposal to North Korea. North Korea has yet to release a clear message in response to the demands since the meeting.

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