U.S. CIA, “NK May Go into National Bankruptcy“

U.S. CIA director George Tenet warned on 19th that North Korea might face a national bankruptcy if the current economic failure is prolonged.

Mr. Tenet testified at the Standing Senate Committee on Military Affairs, “North Korea will face a starvation without a fundamental economic reformation and the humanitarian aids from the international society. And eventually by the deepening of the economic poverty, the chances are getting higher that the North ends up with a national bankruptcy.”

Thomas Wilson, the director of DIA, revealed that “we are granting high priority to the intelligence activities about the North Korean missile and tracing it.” Meanwhile, Bush decided not to certify to the Congress that the North stopped its nuclear activities.

The U.S. Congress requested the U.S. President to certify that the North stopped its nuclear activities before the Congress approves in September the U.S. supply of 500,000 tons of crude petroleum to the North every year.

Since the Geneva Agreed Framework in 1994, the Clinton administration certified every year that the North stopped the nuclear activities. If Bush refuses to certify, the crude supply may be suspended and finally Geneva Agreed Framework is put to danger of nullification. Therefore, some experts consider it as a diplomatic card to press the North.

AP quoted an anonymous official, saying “the Bush`s conclusion is a distinctive sign revealing the uncomfortable relationship between the U.S. and the North.”

The construction of the light-water reactor to replace the plutonium producing facilities will begin in August and will be completed in May 2005.

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com