N Korea in nuclear concession

Guardian ^ | 08/29/03 | Jonathan Watts

[Pikamax]

N Korea in nuclear concession

Jonathan Watts in Beijing Friday August 29, 2003 The Guardian

North Korea reportedly agreed yesterday to keep working with its neighbours for a nuclear-free peninsula - a concession which could conceivably pave the way for a settlement to its standoff with the US. On the second day of six-nation talks in Beijing, China said that the delegates had agreed on the need to meet again within months - the most that analysts expected from the meeting.

But in a surprise departure from North Korea's usual stance, its delegates were also said to have accepted that the shared objective of all parties was a region free of such weapons.

"The parties reiterated that denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is the common goal of all sides, and the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through diplomatic means," said the Chinese foreign ministry.

[telebob]

There is no "stand off". North Korea is a wart, nothing more.

[BenLurkin]

"Concession"? Seemed more like a boast!

[drypowder]

But in a surprise departure from North Korea's usual stance, its delegates were also said to have accepted that the shared objective of all parties was a region free of such weapons

Then why go through ALL the trouble to build them in the first place. This is BS. The US should say to North Korea and Iran, "if the US wanted to take over your country it would have already done so. We have not been a threat to you. You have nukes and that now makes the US and our interests less secure so disarm or else". No studering, no negotionation. You have 24 hours to decide.