Nations that are not involved in the six-party process are welcome to provide energy assistance to North Korea, a diplomat from the Stalinist state said today (see GSN, Nov. 3).
(Nov. 4) -
Perhaps to address rumors of Kim Jong Il’s health, North Korea released this photo of its leader Sunday (Getty Images).
Five nations promised to provide North Korea with 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or related aid in exchange for Pyongyang's pledge last year to give up its nuclear sector. While China, Russia, South Korea and the United States have moved to meet that promise, Japan has refused to supply its portion until it is satisfied that North Korea has addressed the status of all Japanese citizens abducted in the 1970s and 1980s.
Recent reports indicate that Australia, New Zealand and the European Union might step in to provide the energy aid in place of Japan.
"As long as 1 million tons are ensured, it does not matter who gives it to us," North Korean Foreign Ministry researcher Ri Pyong Dok told Kyodo News.
Ri reaffirmed Pyongyang's desire to push Japan out of the negotiations.
"Japan has been obstructing the six-party process at every phase by bringing up the abduction issue, which is not in harmony with the goals and nature of the multilateral talks," he said. "Japan is refusing its obligations under the six-way talks. We have reached a point where Japan's qualifications as a participant should be discussed."
North Korea is ready to carry out its August pledge to look into the abductions again, but only when Japan lifts some economic penalties against the nation, Ri said.
"If Japan is willing to go ahead with the partial lifting of sanctions tomorrow, we are ready to carry out our actions," he said. "That depends on the Japanese government's attitude" (Kyodo News, Nov. 4).
Meanwhile, North Korea on Sunday issued additional photographs of leader Kim Jong Il in another attempt to quash reports that he was in poor health, the New York Times reported.
Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in August and to subsequently have undergone brain surgery. Pyongyang's temporary halt and reversal of the denuclearization process, which also began in August, was seen as a possible sign that he was not in charge of the government. Intelligence reports since then have indicated that he remains in authority.
The images of Kim were taken as he watched a soccer game, according to state-operated media. The match appeared to have occurred in fall, though no specific information was available about the date or location of the game.
The photographs show Kim smiling and in possession of a full head of hair. He was not using his left hand in either of the two images, according to the Times (Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, Nov. 2).