U.S. Strongly Urge NK to Keep Nuclear Agreements

The U.S. announced yesterday that it would not certify that North Korea stopped nuclear activities according to the Geneva Agreed Framework but would keep its promise to supply crude oil to the North.

The White House revealed that “Accepting the recommendation of Colin Powell, George W. Bush will put off certification that is required for North Korea. This is a strong message to the North to remind that the North has a duty to carry out the Agreed Framework and the duty is very important.”

The U.S. promised to supply 500,000 tons of crude oil to the North every year as a reward to the North`s nuclear freeze until the 2 light water reactors are completed and the U.S. administration has certified the North`s nuclear freeze to the U.S. Congress before the implementation of budget in September every year.

The spokesperson of White House said, “by the law, the administration must certify the improvement of the Inter-Korean Non-Nuclear Joint Declaration, Geneva Agreed Framework, and the reduction of the danger related to the North Korean missile export. But it will be put off at this time. However, it won`t affect the Geneva Agreed Framework including the supply of crude oil to the North.”

Responding to the question whether Jack Prichard, Special envoy for the Korean Peninsula Peace Talk, discussed this issue at the meeting with the North delegation to UN, Richard Bauer, spokesperson of the U.S. Defense Department, said, “I know so.”

Meanwhile, British Defense Minister pointed North Korea, Iraq, Iran, and Libya as concerning countries at a hearing of the Defense Committee and revealed that the British Kingdom may use nuclear weapon when those countries use weapons of mass destruction against the UK.

The British Defense Minister also said, “those countries would better believe that the United Kingdom is willing to use nuclear weapons when it is necessary. North Korea is a threat to the world security since it tries to sell weapons to anyone.”

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com