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Strategies & Market Trends : World Outlook -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Green who wrote (987)	10/16/2002 8:09:35 PM
From: Don Green	Respond to of 48884

North Korea Claims Secret Nuke Weapon Program, U.S. Official Says Wednesday October 16, 8:03 pm ET Associated Press WASHINGTON -- North Korea has told the U.S. it has a secret nuclear weapons program in violation of an agreement signed with the Clinton administration, a senior administration official said Wednesday night. North Korea also told U.S. diplomats it is no longer beholden to the anti- nuclear agreement, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The disclosure, which stunned senior administration officials, is certain to chill U.S.-North Korean relations. President Bush had labeled the country part of the "axis of evil" -- along with Iraq and Iran -- but hopes were raised that the reclusive nation wanted to build international ties when Mr. Bush sent Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly to Pyongyang for security talks. Mr. Kelly visited North Korea on Oct. 3 through Oct. 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 U.S. refused all comment on the discussions, Under a 1994 agreement with the U.S., North Korea promised to give up its nuclear weapons program, and it promised to allow inspections to verify that it didn't have the material needed to construct such weapons. But it has yet to allow the inspections, drawing criticism from the Bush administration. The source said Mr. Kelly also raised with North Korea evidence that North Korea may have a uranimum-enrichment program. The program, which the U.S. 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 administration hasn't decided how to respond. "We're going to keep talking," the official said.