US, North Korea to Discuss Nuclear Deal
Top officials from North Korea and from the US are set to meet for talks in an attempt to reignite the former’s deal to disarm its nuclear facilities. Prior to his meeting with Kim Kye-Gwan – the third of its kind so far in 2008 - US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill warned of the limited time now left.
A little over a year ago, North Korea pledged to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for international aid. The deal forged involved it and the US, as well as South Korea, Russia, Japan and China.
Nuclear Reactor Shut Down
In July 2007, Pyongyang shut down its central Yongbyon nuclear reactor, but failed to meet demands to disclose the extent of its nuclear activities by year-end.
Progress, said Hill, now needed to be made.
"I will be discussing the fact that we are kind of running out of time", he commented.
Hill continued: "I don't think we will have any agreement, we are not looking for an agreement, we are looking to have a consultation on some of the issues that have kept us apart.
"They know exactly what the issues are and that we don't want to meet them unless we could achieve something."
Uranium Enrichment Concerns
North Korea and the US are divided on two main concerns. Firstly, over the existence of a covert uranium enrichment programme and, secondly, whether North Korea’s nuclear technology has left its homeland.
Both are claims denied by North Korea, which is adamant that it has provided the US with complete data on its nuclear work.
According to some sources, the two sides may end up reaching a compromise deal.
The US/North Korean meeting follows the latter’s recent missile test launches. Responding to the launches, the US said they were “not constructive”, and urged the far east nation to focus more on nuclear issues.
Source – Armed Forces International’s Far East Correspondent
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