A top North Korean diplomat yesterday said his nation would adhere to the tenets of nuclear nonproliferation but would also augment its nuclear deterrent if subjected to additional sanctions, news agencies reported (see GSN, Sept. 28).
(Sep. 29) -
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon defended his nation's nuclear weapons program in an address to the U.N. General Assembly yesterday (Timothy Clary/Getty Images).
The North is believed to have produced roughly 110 pounds of plutonium, sufficient to power between six and eight nuclear weapons. It has tested two devices, though doubts remain on whether the regime has manufactured a functioning weapon.
In six-nation talks, Pyongyang has signed denuclearization deals and made some moves toward meeting its commitments. However, the typically rocky process appeared to collapse entirely this spring after the U.N. Security Council condemned the North's April rocket launch. Afterward, the Stalinist state conducted a second nuclear test and claimed to be close to possessing the capability to enrich uranium, another avenue to production of nuclear-weapon material.
The regime has more recently appeared ready for renewed talks on the nuclear standoff, making it clear it wants direct diplomatic contact with Washington. The Obama administration has said it is considering the request as a means for jump-starting the multilateral negotiations.
Denuclearization will only occur once Washington ends its program of "confrontation," North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon told the U.N. General Assembly.
"The mission of our nuclear weapon is to deter a war. We will only possess nuclear deterrent to such an extent as to deter military attack and its threat against our country," he said, according to Reuters.
Added Pak, whose nation pulled out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 2003: "While in possession of nuclear weapons, [North Korea] will act in a responsible manner in management, use and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons as well as in nuclear disarmament."
The envoy also lashed the U.N. Security Council, which hit North Korea with another round of sanctions following the May nuclear test. The council of 15 nations has "become more arrogant, resulting in further inequality and prevalent double standards in international relations," he said (Reuters I, Sept. 28).
Further penalties would lead Pyongyang to boost its nuclear deterrent, Pak added (Associated Press I/Yahoo!News, Sept. 28).
North Korea's ambassador to the United Kingdom offered a similar message yesterday in London, Reuters reported.
"We have rejected the six-party talks because these six-party talks are not based on equality and impartiality," said Ja Song Nam, referring to the diplomatic effort involving China, Japan, Russia, the United States and both Koreas.
"If our national sovereignty is respected and if there is no nuclear threat against our country, the nuclear weapons from the D.P.R.K. (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will go," he said.
However, "with the continuation of this current status quo, I doubt there can ever be genuine peace and security," Ja added (Adrian Croft, Reuters II/Yahoo!News, Sept. 28).
Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg is continuing his travels through Asia, for talks likely to address North Korea.
"North Korea will of course be on their agenda, along with other issues concerning the two allies," a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said ahead of Steinberg's meeting with Seoul's top nuclear negotiator and other officials.
Topics of discussion are expected to include possible direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's "grand bargain" of incentives designed to induce the North to give up its nuclear arsenal (Kim Ji-hyun, Korea Herald, Sept. 30).
Steinberg was in China today for meetings with leading foreign affairs officials, AP reported.
"In our discussion today, we focused on how we can address some of the key challenges facing the international community, from economic growth to climate change, global public health, nonproliferation, including North Korea and Iran, and combating terrorism," Steinberg said in a prepared statement (Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press II/Yahoo!News, Sept. 29).
Before leaving for Beijing, Steinberg lauded plans by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to visit North Korea next week, Agence France-Presse reported.
"We are quite appreciative of the fact that China, like other countries involved, has sent a very clear message to North Korea that there is unanimity among all countries in the region about the need for them to return to the six-party talks and to resume the path of denuclearization," the envoy said yesterday in Malaysia. "The fact that they are hearing this message from China as well as the countries in the region helps to reinforce a strong message" (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Sept. 28).