“DPRK, Kim Kye Gwan Contend the Possession of Nuclear Weapons”

It has been known that DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said to a U.S. congressional delegation that Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) led on a visit to North Korea from January 11 to 14 that “North Korea possesses nuclear weapons.” RFA (Radio Free Asia) of America reported this, citing the remarks of Congressman Curt Weldon at a forum held in an area near Washington D.C. on January 22.

According to the report, Congressman Curt Weldon said, “Deputy Foreign Minister Kim declared to the U.S. delegation that ‘North Korea is a nuclear weapons possessing country, but this is only for defense purpose and we don’t have an intention to possess nuclear weapons forever.’”

Congressman Curt Weldon also said, in a meeting with DPRK Foreign Minister Paik Nam Soon, Minister Paik said that maintaining a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is the goal of North Korea, and that the process of giving up nuclear weapons will be continued in a thoroughly transparent way.

Concerning North Korea’s remarks regarding nuclear weapons possession, South Korean authorities responded that they cannot trust wholly the message of the U.S. congressional delegation, which is not the message from the official U.S government view.

taewon_ha@donga.com