North Korea opposes Bolton representing US in six-party talks

Australian Broadcasting Company ^ | August 03 2003

[knighthawk]

North Korea has voiced opposition to US arms control chief John Bolton representing the United States in planned six-country talks about its nuclear weapons program, citing his reported criticisms of leader Kim Jong Il.

Mr Bolton "is not entitled to take part in view of either the importance of the talks aimed to decide on peace and stability in Northeast Asia or human dignity," a spokesman for the North's Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The spokesman cited Mr Bolton's reported remarks about Mr Kim during his recent visit to Japan and South Korea.

Mr Bolton said on Thursday in a speech he gave in Seoul, "while he lives like royalty in Pyongyang, he keeps hundreds of thousands of his people locked in prison camps with millions more mired in abject poverty".

"On the basis of a serious analysis of Bolton's outcries in the light of his political vulgarity and psychopathological condition, we have decided not to consider him as an official of the US administration any longer nor to deal with him," the spokesman said.

But the spokesman also said "there is no change in our stand on holding the six-party talks including the bilateral talks between [North Korea] and the US".

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Paleo Conservative]

Perhaps they would prefer our Ohio Class SSBNs to represent us.

[Lazamataz]

North Korea opposes Bolton representing US in six-party talks

I agree. While Michael Bolton is a talented, if silly, singer, I bet he's a bad negotiator.

[Nick Danger]

Maybe they would prefer Rumsfeld.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Yep. He is no pussycat!

The Undersecretary of State, John Bolton

[SwinneySwitch]

MOABs!

[Tank-FL]

They want Jane Fonda

[Tacis]

This whole thing is a farce. The NKs are crazy and are playing a whacko game. They are calling six nations together, not to "negotiate,: but to deliver ultimatums. There will be a constant barrage of nits like this with the NKs using each "issue" to exact some bribe in order to move on. When, at last, we all do sit down (and the NKs have their basket of goodies), they will deliver some kind of ultimatum involving a precondition(s), such as removing the US fleet from the Pacific, that will make it impossible to go forward.

Then, they'll do the same thing in two years.

And, DO NOT meet in NK. The NKs would wind up putting all delegates under protective custody (Hanta virus threat?) and daring the rest of the world to come get them.

[Solamente]

What's their problem? Everybody loves Officer Joe Bolton!