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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas M. who wrote (17364)	10/15/2002 2:24:28 PM
From: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck	Respond to of 23908

You are still on the pol pot rant? John Pilger? Yah now there is credibility...

To: Thomas M. who wrote (17364)	10/16/2002 11:26:44 PM
From: Tadsamillionaire	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23908

U.S.: North Korea Says Has Nukes Wed Oct 16, 9:44 PM ET By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - In a startling revelation, North Korea (news - web sites) has told the United States it has a secret nuclear weapons program in violation of an 1994 agreement with the United States, the White House said Wednesday night. Spokesman Sean McCormack said North Korea was in "material breach" of the agreement under which it promised not to develop nuclear weapons. The commitment had raised hopes for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, but that hope is dashed for the time being, and relations with the United States are back to square one. The two countries had just resumed high-level security talks less than two weeks ago for the first time in two years. It was during those discussions that North Korea informed the United States of its nuclear activities. McCormack said the United States is consulting with it allies, South Korea (news - web sites) and Japan, and with members of Congress on next steps. "We seek a peaceful resolution of this situation," McCormack said. "Everyone in the region has a stake in this issue and no peaceful nation wants to see a nuclear-armed North Korea." "The United States and our allies call on North Korea to comply with its commitments under the nonproliferation treaty and to eliminate its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable manner." U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said North Korea told U.S. officials that it is no longer bound by the anti-nuclear agreement. The dramatic disclosure complicates President Bush (news - web sites)'s campaign to disarm Iraq under threat of military force, coming almost nine months after Bush said North Korea was part of an "axis of evil" along with Iran and Iraq. It seems unlikely, however, that North Korea will become a target country for the United States much as Iraq is nowadays. With war plans for Iraq already on the drawing board and a broader war on terrorism still under way, threats against North Korea could leave the United States overextended. Until now, the United States' main concern with North Korea has been its sale of ballistic missiles to Syria, Iran and other countries. Now North Korea's nuclear program is added to the mix. The United States has been suspicious about North Korea's nuclear intentions for some time despite the agreement. A CIA (news - web sites) report in January said that during the second half of last year, North Korea "continued its attempts procure technology worldwide that could have applications in its nuclear program. "We assess that North Korea has produced enough plutonium for at least one, and possibly two, nuclear weapons." South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tae-sik said South Korea has consistently pursued the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula in line with international agreements. "We urge North Korea to abide by its obligations," he said. There was no immediate response from the Japanese government. Japan and South Korea are treaty allies of the United States. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly visited North Korea on Oct. 3-5 and demanded that the communist state address global concerns about its nuclear and other weapons programs. In response, the Pyongyang government accused Bush's special envoy of making "threatening remarks." The United States refused all comment on the discussions. Under the 1994 agreement, North Korea promised to give up its nuclear weapons program and to allow inspections to verify that it did not have the material needed to construct such weapons. But it has yet to allow the inspections, drawing criticism from the Bush administration. The agreement also called for the construction of two light water nuclear reactors to replace the plutonium-producing reactors Pyongyang had been using. The reactors were being financed mostly by South Korea and Japan. Construction of the reactors began just two months ago. An administration source said Kelly also raised with North Korea evidence that Pyongyang may have a uranimum-enrichment program. The program, which the United States believes would only be used to develop a nuclear bomb, began under the Clinton administration, according to the official. Surprisingly, North Korea confirmed the allegation. The Bush administration has not decided how to respond. "We're going to keep talking," an official said. After months of tension with South Korea, the North resumed high-level talks in August that restarted stalled reconciliation efforts on the Korean peninsula — divided by the most heavily armed border in the world. The Koreas were divided after World War II and remained that way at the end of the inconclusive Korean War from 1950-53. About 37,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against the North. story.news.yahoo.com