U.S. remains ‘skeptical’ about N. Korea nuclear declaration

“We still have not heard from the North Koreans as to when they will provide a complete and accurate declaration,” said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Asked whether Washington had any indication that Pyongyang would fully unveil its atomic programs, Perino replied: “They were a part of the agreement that established this deadline, and we don’t have any reason to believe that they won’t, but we are skeptical, given the length of time that it’s taken.”

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will head to Beijing in “mid-January” for regularly scheduled talks. China hosts the six-country talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear programs, said Perino. “No doubt that this is going to be one of the topics,” said Perino.

Pyongyang was supposed to have completed the disablement of its nuclear plants and handed over its declaration by December 31 in return for one million tons of fuel oil or equivalent energy aid, and diplomatic benefits.

The disablement which began in November and which is financed and supervised by the US, had been expected to miss the deadline for technical reasons.

But according to a report by Japan’s Kyodo News, the North has also told the United States it is reducing the shifts of workers carrying out the operation.

A Pyongyang official reportedly warned last week of a slowdown because of a delay in providing the promised energy aid.

The United States, Japan and South Korea — members of the negotiations along with Russia, China and the North itself — expressed disappointment at the missed deadline.

North Korea now risks losing out on diplomatic and economic incentives promised in return for a full nuclear declaration, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Monday.

“This is an action-for-action process,” he told reporters in Texas, where US President George W. Bush rang in 2008 on his ranch.

The State Department said its top envoy on the nuclear issue, Christopher Hill, was now expected to hold talks with officials from Japan, South Korea, China and Russia to chart the next steps.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email