Bush, “The North Korean Nuclear Problem Can Be Solved Diplomatically.”

It was known on the 2nd that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would have a special board meeting in Vienna, Austria on the 6th and take a special resolution against North Korea asking to give up the development of nuclear weapons immediately.

The IAEA plans to ask through the resolution to return the removal of the sealing of the North Korean nuclear facilities and the making of surveillance cameras incapable to their original condition and immediate performance of the nuclear safety agreement, and it will officially state its standpoint to `deplore` about the one-sided North Korean management of removing the freezing nuclear facilities.

Before that the US President George W. Bush stressed on last December 31st, “We will solve it (the North Korean nuclear problem) peacefully through diplomatic means,” and said, “I expect the Korean President-Elect Noh, Moo-Hyun to visit America after inauguration.”

The President Bush answered the question of reporters whether a military action was considered against North Korea, “The North Korean problem is not a problem for military showdown but for diplomatic showdown,” and stressed several times, “We can solve this peacefully.” It was the first time for the President Bush to use the term `diplomatic showdown` for the North Korean nuclear situation.

The government, in relation to this, started to contact with the 4 Big Powers around the Korean Peninsular having high-level talks with China on the 2nd and Russia on the 5th.

In relation to the solution of the North Korean nuclear problem, the North Korean Ambassador to the UN Park, Kil-Yeon said through an interview with the AFP on the 31st, “North Korea hopes to conclude a nonaggression pact with America as a condition of keeping the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT),” and “if America accepts our proposal, this problem should be solved.”

In the meantime, the British the Times reported that one inspector out of 3 inspectors expelled from North Korea arrived Vienna, Austria carrying very sensitive secret papers and equipment, and he would submit a report to the IAEA headquarter soon.