Secret Action to Suspend North Korea’s Nuclear Program is Being Considered

United States’ National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice announced on August 8, “The United States will take various means including secret actions to suspend North Korea’s nuclear program.”

National Security Advisor Rice also appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and responded to the point that the U.S.’ political effort to suspend the nuclear program of North Korea and Iran has failed by emphasizing, “The United States has established a foundation for a six-nation conference, and in order for North Korea to join the international society within that boundary, it has to abandon its nuclear program.”

On the question of whether the U.S.’ methods for suspending North Korea’s nuclear program include “secret actions,” she suggested a possibility of others ways to be examined, replying, “President George W. Bush will examine all possible means.”

Furthermore, she also mentioned, “It was President George W. Bush who made North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear programs subjects for discussion, by declaring these countries as the ‘axis of evil’ on January 2002 during the president`s annual State of the Union message to Congress.”

On the question of whether the U.S will allow Iran to possess any nuclear weapons, she clarified, “I do not think the international society will allow this matter,” and added, “In September, the IAEA will issue a strong declaration asking Iran to choose either isolation or compliance with international standards.”

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com