Pyongyang Suggests Two-Step Approach

David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, and Joel Witt, former U.S. negotiator for the Geneva Disarmament talks, said that North Korea is considering proposing a phased dismantlement of its nuclear program in the new round of six-party talks starting on February 8 in Beijing.

The two mentioned on February 6 that North Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Gye Gwan, Pyongyang’s chief negotiator for the talks, had said that the North would offer a two-step approach for nuclear disarmament. First, Pyongyang will demand the international community supply it with energy and lift sanctions in return for freezing its nuclear facilities and allowing inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return to the North. Second, it will request resumption of the construction of a light water reactor in the North in exchange for renouncing its nuclear program.

Washington’s chief envoy to the talks Christopher Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, wrapped up his visit to Japan before arriving in China on Wednesday. He said that the success of this round of talks depends on participants from all of the six countries, and he hopes it will be a successful round of negotiations.

Hill’s remarks indicate that how willing the participants are to provide aid to Pyongyang will make or break this round of talks. His comments can further be interpreted that “nuclear negotiations” with the North will start in earnest.

He further stated that genuine success is not when the September 19 Joint Statement will start to be implemented, but when it will be fully implemented, and though it is not likely that the talks will be concluded this week, this will be a good start.

It has been about 1.5 months since the last round of talks broke down last December.

Bilateral talks between South Korea and China, and the U.S. and China were held Wednesday in Beijing on a day before the resumption of the six-way talks.

Chun Young-woo, South Korean chief nuclear negotiator, said upon arriving in Beijing Wednesday, “The five countries except North Korea should not hesitate to take reasonable corresponding measures on the dismantlement of the North’s nuclear program.”

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