Bush says food, energy aid possible if North Korea disarms

Associated Press / SFGate

[RCW2001]

RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
©2003 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/01/14/national1145EST0558.DTL

(01-14) 08:55 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

President Bush said Tuesday he would reconsider a plan to give North Korea energy and food aid if the communist regime disarms its nuclear weapons program.

Hoping to ease tensions, the president told reporters in the Oval Office, "I view this as an opportunity to bind together nations in the neighborhood and around the world to make it clear to the North Koreans that we expect this issue to be resolved peacefully and we expect them to disarm -- we expect them not to develop nuclear weapons."

"If they so choose to do so -- their choice -- then I will reconsider whether or not I we'll start the bold initiative that I talked to Secretary (Colin) Powell about," Bush said before a meeting with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Earlier in the session with reporters, Bush said his initative included talks about food and energy aid because the United States cares "about the suffering of the North Korean people."

Bush spoke after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly suggested in Asia that North Korea could get energy aid if it dismantles its nuclear weapons programs. The White House denied Monday that Kelly's offer amounted to negotiating with Pyongyang, something Bush vowed never to do.

Asked about that charge Tuesday, the president explained that he had authorized Secretary of State Powell last fall to offer North Korea assistance, but then Pyongyang acknowledged it was producing nuclear weapons in violation of a 1994 agreement with the United States.

"People say, `Are you willing to talk to North Korea?' Of course we are. But what this nation won't do is be blackmailed," Bush said with the Polish president at his side.

Kwasniewski said he agreed with Bush's approach.

Earlier, the White House welcomed China's offer Tuesday to host talks between the United States and North Korea but stopped short of calling the development a breakthrough in the peninsula's nuclear standoff.

"We welcome this step," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "It's appropriate for these officials to talk, and we believe the message that's been given (by allies) is very unified in regards to our approach to North Korea -- the world has condemned North Korea's actions."

Asked whether China's overture was a step toward a solution, Fleischer said, however, "That's up to North Korea. We'll find out. We hope so."

North Korea warned it was running out of patience with Washington, threatening to exercise new "options."

A vaguely worded statement from the North did not specify what options it was considering, but suggested the isolationist communist nation was prepared to escalate the confrontation.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly left for China Tuesday after assuring South Korean officials that Washington would stick to diplomacy to seek a peaceful settlement to the crisis over the North's drive to develop nuclear weapons.

Earlier, Kelly held out the prospect of energy assistance to the impoverished North if it verifiably gives up its nuclear ambitions. North Korea suffers an acute energy shortage.

The communist country withdrew from the landmark Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty last week and has threatened to resume long-range missile tests and to begin reprocessing spent fuel rods from its nuclear reactor to make atomic bombs.

Talks also were set for London on Wednesday.

Undersecretary of State John Bolton, who has been in Asia talking to leaders there, will meet in London with British and French officials on how to resolve the North Korean dispute.

The standoff began last fall when the United States said North Korea had acknowledged a secret nuclear weapons program. In response, the United States suspended fuel shipments. Then North Korea expelled U.N. inspectors, made monitoring difficult by removing cameras and seals at its facilities and said it reactivated its Yongbyon nuclear facilities.

The White House also said dangling the prospect of economic assistance does not run counter to Bush's vow not to reward threats.

"There is a perfect consistency here," the presidential spokesman said.

Over the last week, the White House's stance toward North Korea has seen subtle changes, with the United States first offering talks in the joint communique and now economic incentives.

All the while, the Bush administration has been buffeted by critics from both sides, with some pressing for engagement with North Korea to help break the stalemate and others urging against any appearance of capitulation.

©2003 Associated Press  

[justshe]

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[qwas]

"People say, `Are you willing to talk to North Korea?' Of course we are. But what this nation won't do is be blackmailed," Bush said with the Polish president at his side.

I wonder if he managed to say this with a staight face. [/sarcasm]