Pyongyang Backtracks
by Richardson ~ February 13th, 2007. Filed under: Diplomacy, Engagement, Nuclear Proliferation, Six-Party Talks, WMD.This just goes to show what North Korea has already proved before; to “shut down and seal” something is not permanent, no matter what the paper says or who signed it. While the statement below perhaps falls short of reneging, it is backtracking and definitely leaves the door open for a full exit when the “temporary suspension” is deemed to be over by the power that is in North Korea:
Just hours after announcing the agreement — which clearly states North Korea must “shut down and seal for the purpose of eventual abandonment the Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility” — Pyongyang issued a statement claiming it had agreed only to a “temporary suspension” of its nuclear program.
“At the talks, the parties decided to offer economic and energy aid equivalent to 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil in connection with the DPRK’s temporary suspension of the operation of its nuclear facilities,” the Korean Central News Agency said… (emphasis added)
That was a bit faster than last years 20 September reneging, but pretty close, give or take a few hours.
February 13th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Lucy, Charlie Brown and the football.
’nuff said
February 13th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Another f*cking disaster. How many times can we (the West) repeat a mistake before we are declared insane?
February 13th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Oh, North Korea may play along… for awhile. But I don’t see them ever coming through. The idea is to lead the U.S. et al on long enough to reduce sanctions but not actually engage. It’s worked this long.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
They will play along to buy time and now with this deal, more funding to continue to develop their TBM and ICBM capabilities. When they decide to kick out the inspectors again they will have a much stronger negotiating hand with a ICBM that can hit Japan or the US with a nuclear weapon. The blackmail will be much more expensive then, thus the need for missile defense in the Pacific.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I agree. Considering the consequences of Clinton’s failure to act in the late 1990s, I hope Bush doesn’t give up the heavy lifting with TMD now. In five or ten years we’ll wish we had it.
February 15th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
[…] how determined this Administration is to ignore the dismally predictable ”reinterpretations” that are already being broadcast from Pyongyang, and the lies that are sure to […]