Posted on 02/13/2007 3:48:24 PM PST by blam
North Korea deal 'a message to Iran'
By Richard Spencer in Beijing and Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 9:00pm GMT 13/02/2007
Audio: Alex Spillius on America's compromise Video: Con Coughlin on a groundbreaking deal Analysis: US frees itself to pursue other wars Q & A: North Korea's nuclear ambitions In pictures: North Korea's nuclear quest Sanctions to halt Iran's nuclear programme will fail America has described a dramatic deal aimed at reining in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as a “message to Iran” that the world would stand firm against atomic proliferation.
After marathon six-party talks in Beijing saw an agreement struck with the Pyongyang regime, America was quick to point to this as an example of what could be achieved with other rogue states. America has described a dramatic deal aimed at reining in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as a “message to Iran” that the world would stand firm against atomic proliferation.
Kim Jong-il united the world in condemnation when North Korea tested a nuclear device in October
The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, dismissed criticism from hawks in Washington that the deal showed that “bad behaviour” would be rewarded.
North Korean negotiators committed the isolated Stalinist state to meeting a 60-day deadline to freeze activity at a plutonium reprocessing plant at Yongbyon in return for a shipment of fuel oil and other concessions vital to sustaining the cash-starved Pyongyang government.
The Yongbyon plant provided the weapons-grade plutonium used to conduct the country’s first nuclear test last October.
The underground test imposed a fresh urgency in ongoing six-party negotiations and led to a policy U-turn by the Bush administration.
“Why should it not be seen as a message to Iran that the international community is able to bring together its resources, particularly when regionally affected states work together, and that the strong diplomacy has finally achieved results?” said Ms Rice.
North Korea will receive a further huge injection of energy assistance if it permanently dismantles its nuclear facilities, many of which are untouched by yesterday’s deal.
A fresh round of talks will be held next month.
Photograph from inside the Yongbyon nuclear power plant in North Korea, taken by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1992
In a key policy shift, the United States also agreed to open talks on normalising diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, removing it from its list of states that sponsor terrorism, and also from the terms of the Trading with the Enemy Act which severely curtails trade with Kim Jong-il’s regime.
It was a far cry from President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address in 2002, when he said North Korea was part of an “axis of evil”, alongside Iraq and Iran.
The deal was widely welcomed across East Asia, where the North’s test in October had fuelled fears that Japan, and even South Korea and Taiwan, might feel forced to join a nuclear arms race.
Britain hailed the “positive outcome” of the talks.
Tony Blair said the agreement had been achieved because the West had negotiated from a position of strength - and indicated the same would be needed in dealing with Iran.
Boy is you an optimist!
I mean … Boy are you an optimist! Typos are not our friend.
Just heard on Fox News tonight that NK has said that this is all 'temporary.'
The word you're trying to spell is "renege".
Bribery is standing firm?
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