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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (52558)	10/17/2002 4:04:06 AM
From: SirRealist	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

N. Korea Admits to Nuclear Weapons Thu Oct 17, 3:12 AM ET By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States and South Korea (news - web sites), stung by North Korea (news - web sites)'s admission that it has a secret nuclear weapons program, are calling on Pyongyang to reverse course and abide by promises to renounce development of these armaments. The startling disclosure, announced Wednesday night by the White House, changed the political landscape in East Asia, setting back hopes that North Korea was on the road to becoming a more benign presence in the region. Japan expressed "grave concern" about the North Korea's nuclear revelation. The disclosure adds to the administration's list of foreign policy headaches, coming on top of a possible U.S. attack on Iraq and the overall U.S. war on terrorism. Any administration inclination to try to confront North Korea, which President Bush (news - web sites) has labeled as part of an "axis of evil" with Iraq and Iran, could be tempered by a desire not to become overextended internationally. Presidential spokesman Sean McCormack said North Korea was guilty of a serious infringement of a 1994 agreement with the United States under which Pyongyang promised to be nuclear-free in return for economic assistance. "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," McCormack said. U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said North Korea told U.S. diplomats that it was no longer bound by the anti-nuclear agreement. In Seoul, 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. Japan and South Korea are treaty allies of the United States. "We urge North Korea to abide by its obligations," he said. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said late Wednesday the United States had been ready to offer North Korea economic and other benefits if Pyongyang agreed to curb missile programs, end threats and change its behavior in other ways. "In light of our concerns about the North's nuclear weapons program, however, we are unable to pursue this approach," Boucher said. For a time, North Korea had seemed ready to shed Bush's "axis of evil" designation. Pyongyang was carrying out capitalist reforms and reaching out to both Japan and South Korea. It also resumed talks with the United States earlier this month. It is not clear what steps the Bush administration may have in mind now for North Korea. Also unclear is just how far along the North Korean nuclear program is. As McCormack made the announcement, Undersecretary of State John Bolton was flying to East Asia to consult with allies on the changed situation. William Triplett, a defense writer and East Asia expert, said the North Korean admission means Pyongyang now has or will soon have the ability to export nuclear warheads along with the long-range missiles it is already exporting to the Middle East and South Asia. The new development is certain to have an impact in Japan, which may now feel vulnerable to potential nuclear blackmail by North Korea. There may also be increased challenges in Japan to the country's postwar commitment to pacifism. Political tremors also are likely in South Korea, where President Kim Dae-jung (news - web sites)'s rule is best known for his incessant search for a more amicable relationship with his neighbor. North Korea is certain to be a major element in political campaigning in South Korea for December presidential elections. Under the 1994 agreement, in return for renouncing nuclear weapons, Pyongyang was to receive two light water nuclear reactors to replace the country's plutonoium-producing reactors. Groundbreaking for the new reactors, which were supposed to have been completed by 2003, just took place in August, with a State Department official on hand. The two countries had just resumed high-level security talks less than two weeks ago for the first time since October 2000. It was during those discussions that North Korea informed the United States of its nuclear activities. The United States has been suspicious about North Korea's nuclear intentions for some time despite the 1994 agreement. A CIA (news - web sites) report in January said that during the second half of last year, North Korea "continued its attempts to 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." That has been a U.S. concern dating from before the 1994 agreement. International inspections were supposed to clear up that mystery but the North never permitted them despite a commitment to do so. The North Korean revelations apparently refer to more recent nuclear development activities, possibly encompassing the period when former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (news - web sites) visited Pyongyang in October 2000. President Clinton (news - web sites) thought seriously about making a visit as well before leaving office. North Korea may have foreshadowed the sudden souring of relations 10 days ago when, after Kelly's departure, it called the U.S. diplomat "high-handed and arrogant." It also vowed to maintain a high military vigilance unless Washington changes its policy. ___ On the Web: State Department's North Korea site: state.gov

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (52558)	10/17/2002 5:25:30 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 281500

This caught my attention... <<...Pentagon seeks exemption from environmental laws March 29, 2002: The Defense Department, citing national security, is circulating draft legislation that would exempt the military from compliance with federal laws that protect water quality, air quality, and endangered species and wildlife habitat. The Pentagon wants Congress to exempt activities conducted at sea, on the nation's air bases, at bombing ranges and at other facilities from protections under a wide range of environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Noise Control Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Endangered Species Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), CERCLA (Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation, and Reliability Act), and even the federal Superfund program. Nearly all of these federal environmental regulations already contain exemptions for the Defense Department in national emergencies, times of war, and for national security. Moreover, the bill's draft language is so broad that many of the exemptions would apply to anyone, anytime, anywhere -- essentially steamrolling the nation's carefully planned laws that are designed to protect human health, the environment, and quality of life. "Our nation's health and environmental protections are vital to our national security and our way of life," said Alys Campaigne, NRDC's legislative director. "Federal laws already contain provisions to ensure that national security needs are not hindered in times of crisis, making the Pentagon's bill tantamount to a declaration of war on our air, land and water." FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit: NRDC Whales & Marine Mammals pages>> nrdc.org KC: Here we are OVERspending on defense and with $400 Billion+/year the jokers running the Pentagon want an exemption from our environmental laws...Give me a break...Are they really trying to protect American citizens..?? Do they actually want to preserve our country and this planet for future generations..??...IMO, Bush should mandate that they follow all appropriate environmental guidelines...they've got PLENTY of money to do that...We need to see some leadership Mr. Rumsfeld. -Scott@somethingsneverceasetoamazeme.com