Posted on 02/03/2004 10:13:56 PM PST by HAL9000
North Korea urges U.S. concession for nuclear freeze during Cabinet talks with South Korea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea on Wednesday demanded compensation from the United States for freezing its nuclear weapons programs as a first step in resolving a 15-month standoff, as preparations got underway for critical nuclear negotiations later this month in Beijing.
The comments came during high-level talks in Seoul between North and South Korean officials.
"The United States has not at all changed its demand that we first give up our nuclear programs," the North's chief negotiator Kim Ryong Song said, according to pool reports.
"What is important is resolving the issue through our proposal of simultaneous action."
A South Korean delegate at the Cabinet-level inter-Korean talks in Seoul said North Korea's offers didn't go far enough and asked North Korea to be more flexible.
"We urged North Korea to take a more progressive position on the dismantlement of the nuclear programs in general because it will be difficult to resolve the nuclear issue in the near future just with North Korea's offer of a freeze in exchange for compensation," delegate Shin Eon-sang said during a break in the meetings.
Outside the venue, Seoul's Shilla Hotel, about 20 South Korean protesters shouted slogans such as "Stop all South-North Korean exchanges until North Korea dismantles its nuclear programs!" One banner read: "We call on the international community to work to topple the dictatorship of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and liberate the North Korean people."
About 50 police officers were on hand, but no clashes were reported.
Six-nations talks on settling the issue had faltered for months over disagreements on the ground rules for negotiations. A first round between the United States, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas ended in August in Beijing without much progress.
North Korea agreed Tuesday to hold a second round Feb. 25.
North Korea has insisted it needs a nuclear "deterrent" against a possible U.S. attack. But it has said it would suspend its nuclear programs as a first step in easing tensions if Washington lifts sanctions, resumes oil shipments and removes North Korea from its list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
The United States has said North Korea must first begin dismantling its nuclear programs. U.S. officials believe the North already has one or two nuclear bombs and could make several more within months.
"What we want is that each other lower their guns and live in harmony," Kim said. "We want simultaneous action in that sense, and if the United States cannot implement that in whole, we are demanding as a first step 'freeze vs. compensation,' compensating measures for a freeze."
"The U.S. position in the coming talks is important," Kim said.
South Korea's Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, Kim's counterpart, called for mutual understanding from participants in the nuclear talks to "remove the stone blocking the way to the gold."
"Let's not think that coming to the talks itself is significant, but resolve the problem from a point of mutuality as there are various countries participating and various positions," Jeong said.
The South Korean minister said inter-Korean projects meant to promote reconciliation on the divided Korean Peninsula would gain further momentum if the nuclear standoff is eased.
"We hope conditions improve so we can work twice as hard this year as last," he said.
The North-South meetings are the highest-level regular contacts between the rival Koreas. This week's talks, scheduled to run through Friday, are the 13th round since the historic June 2000 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. The last meeting was held in October.
At this week's North-South meeting, officials are also likely to discuss a number of inter-Korean projects such as cross-border road and rail links and the family reunions of relatives separated for decades by the tightly sealed border. The Koreas were divided at the end of World War II.
Oh wait, the last Prez WAS that stupid.
Well, now (thankfully) the adults are in charge.
"Pay us, feed us... or we will KILL YOU!"
"Pay us, feed us SO WE CAN KILL YOU!"
These jerks still don't get it; CLINTOON IS NO LONGER RUNNING THE SHOW, the adults are back in the White House and BUSH does not run and hide when threatened. Rather than fold his hand (when he is holding 4 Aces) he ups the ante and calls!
Where has this guy been burying his head?
Der Schlick isn't at the reins anymore, the day's of appeasement through threat are gone!
No thanks, we tried this crap 10 years ago.
What we can anticipate next can be observed at any primate research center. After an episode of chest beating and feces throwing he will retreat to a corner, piss himself and whimper for a while. He will know he has no chance at the alpha male role in the world. If we play this right he will be picking lice off of our backs by mid summer.
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