North Korea rocks nuclear deal
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-20 21:30

BLUSTER OR BOMBSHELL?

As the North has given ground before, its statement may not be the last word. After the first round in August 2003, it said just a day after the talks it saw no need for more.

"It could be a lot of bluster," said one U.S. official in Washington. But Tuesday's statement posed at least a challenge to a deal which delegates had applauded less than 24 hours earlier.

"This was obviously not the agreement they signed and we will see what the coming weeks bring," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, referring to the gap before talks are set to resume in November. Japan took the same view.

Referring to its nuclear deterrent, North Korea's chief delegate, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, told reporters in Beijing: "There will be no such thing as giving it up first."

Back in Pyongyang, he said he hoped the North and Washington could take real action on the Beijing agreement.

Page:

1

2

3

4

5

Close

North Korea to drop nuclear weapons development Clinton Global Initiative Summit Schwarzenegger seeks re-election in 2006

Today's Top News     Top World News
PBOC: Economy too much export-driven         Income gap in China reaches serious level         N. Korea demands nuke reactor from U.S.         Tropical storm Rita heads toward the Keys         Boeing sees China buying 2,600 jets         UN warned on abuse of intervention right	North Korea demands nuke reactor from US       NASA planning moon launch for 2018       Schroeder seeks coalition pacts with rivals       al-Qaida takes blame for London blasts       Israeli seeks closer ties with Arab world       British soldiers free two from Iraq jail