North Won’t Give Up Nukes Says Official

According to NHK, a Japanese broadcasting station, DPRK First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju was staunch on the nuclear issue, saying, “How can we dismantle our nuclear weapons?” in Beijing on Wednesday. Kang is a close aide to the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and in charge of diplomatic policies.

Kang left Moscow, where he stayed for two weeks, and arrived at Beijing on Wednesday. When reporters asked him about the six-party talks, which are to be held next month, he said, “How can we dismantle our nuclear weapons? We did not make them to give them up.” When asked if North Korea intends to demand the U.S. to lift financial sanctions, he answered, “Of course,” emphasizing that North Korea plans to demand the removal of sanctions through direct talks with the U.S. in the next working level meeting.

Kang explained that the purpose of his Moscow visit was to treat his illness, and that there were no meetings with Russian diplomats. He also said that talks with Chinese diplomats are not included in his schedule.

sya@donga.com