N. Korea Backtracks on Nuke Plans

The Foreign Ministry of North Korea made a statement on March 28, officially denying the U.S. demand that the communist state admit the allegations regarding Syria’s nuclear programs and the uranium enrichment program (UEP) even in an indirect manner.

These two issues have been the most contentious ones, as both, if settled, would indicate the North’s will to completely dismantle its nuclear facilities.

North Korea has denied these allegations several times. The statement by the Foreign Ministry is regarded as its official response to the Geneva meeting between North Korea and the U.S., making the future of the six party talks murky.

In the Geneva meeting on March 14, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill and North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Kwan reportedly were on the verge of agreeing to how the North would admit the two issues in an indirect manner. Pyongyang gave a negative answer in the end.

North Korea seems to be trying to say, “The reason the six-party talks are at a standstill is the U.S. as it insists what does not exist exists.” South Korea`s Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung-hwan had a meeting with his U.S. counterpart on March 26 in the U.S. He and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the patience of the two nations is reaching the limit.

A diplomatic source said on March 27, “There is no going back now as the North officially denied its UEP. Considering its domestic political situation, the U.S. can’t make a concession any more.”

Another source said, “The statement shows the North has a negative attitude toward its negotiations with the U.S., which indicates all efforts so far have resulted in a failure.”

Some experts, however, insist that the statement by the North is only a part of the negotiation between Washington and Pyongyang and that the Korean government should continue to watch the developments. They say the North is threatening the U.S. by saying, “We will never admit,” while asking the U.S. to come up with another resolution.

North Korea said the country is disappointed at the Bush administration which wants to resolve this issue before August, only considering its circumstances. The statement is regarded as a strategy to negotiate with the U.S. in a better position by sending a message, “We don’t want to be limited to a specific deadline.”

A government official said, “We don’t think the North wants to pull out of the six-party talks, and the government will watch how it goes to understand its real intention.”

kimhs@donga.com