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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation North Korea Statement on Nuclear Facilities & Selected Reaction, December 12-13
I. North Korea Foreign Ministry StatementOperation and Building of Nuclear Facilities to be Resumed Immediately', Statement by Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Pyongyang, December 12; statement published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), December 12, http://www.kcna.co.jp. Note: the November 14 decision mentioned in the opening sentence of the statement refers to the announcement by the Korean Peninsular Energy Development Corporation (KEDO) - the organisation charged with implementation of the 1994 US-DPRK Agreed Framework (AF) - to suspend shipments of heavy fuel oil to North Korea in protest at Pyongyang's apparent admission of a clandestine uranium-enrichment programme. The shipments are intended to compensate North Korea for the loss of power generation entailed in the suspension of its pre-1994 graphite-moderated nuclear reactors, capable of producing weapons-grade fissile material. The suspension decision (see Disarmament Documentation) was taken by KEDO's Executive Board, consisting of the European Union (EU), the Republic of Korea, Japan and the United States. StatementAfter making public its November 14 decision to stop the supply of heavy oil to the DPRK, which had been under way under the AF, the US actually stopped the supply of heavy oil from December. By doing so the US gave up its commitment to supply heavy oil under the AF not only in words but in deed. The US is misleading public opinion, claiming that the US took this measure because the DPRK "admitted its nuclear development program", thus being the first to violate the AF. But this is a foolish attempt. The US already listed the DPRK as part of an "axis of evil" and a target of pre-emptive nuclear attack. It, therefore, cannot flee from the responsibility for its flagrant violation of the spirit and articles of the AF. The US loudmouthed DPRK's "admission to its nuclear development program" is a phraseology arbitrarily used by the US President's special envoy [Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly] after his visit to the DPRK early in October. So, the DPRK feels no need to comment on it. It is the invariable stand of the DPRK Government to find a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK has exercised maximum self-restraint and forbearance from this stand even under the worst situation where the US has, in fact, brought the AF to the verge of collapse and its nuclear threat to the DPRK has become real. This notwithstanding, the US is increasing its pressure upon the DPRK to give up the nuclear development program through possible verification, after stopping the supply of heavy oil to the DPRK, to begin with. This [has] more clearly revealed the US intention to disarm the DPRK by force and destroy its system. The supply of heavy oil to the DPRK was neither aid nor cooperation, but the US obligation to make up for the loss of electricity in return for the freeze of nuclear power plants under operation and construction. The US actual abandonment of its obligation has caused the DPRK's production of electricity to suffer a loss right now. Whether the DPRK refreezes its nuclear facilities or not entirely depends on the attitude of the US. II. Statement by UN Secretary-General'Secretary-General concerned by lifting of nuclear programme freeze', statement issued by spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UN Press Release SG/SM/8561, December 13. The Secretary-General is concerned about the recent decision by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to lift the freeze on its nuclear facilities maintained pursuant to the 1994 USA-DPRK Agreed Framework and to resume the operation and construction of nuclear facilities to generate electricity. The Secretary-General urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to comply with its safeguards agreement, cooperating fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and not to undertake any unilateral act that might complicate the IAEA's ability to carry out its responsibilities under the IAEA-DPRK safeguards agreement. The Secretary-General calls upon all concerned to cooperate to resolve the complex situation through peaceful means, and strongly urges the continuation of international efforts to reach a positive outcome of the situation, consistent with international norms. III. IAEA Press Release'IAEA Director General Calls for DPRK Restraint', International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Press Release, PR 2002/21, December 12. The IAEA received today a letter from Mr. Ri Je Son, Director General of the General Department of Atomic Energy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, informing the IAEA of the DPRK's decision to "lift the freeze" on its nuclear facilities maintained pursuant to the DPRK-USA Agreed Framework and to resume operations of these facilities for power generation. [IAEA Director General] Dr. [Mohamed] ElBaradei called on the DPRK to act with restraint in this tense situation - and not to take any unilateral action that might further complicate the IAEA's ability to determine whether the DPRK's inventory of nuclear material subject to safeguards was complete and correct. The DPRK's letter requests that the IAEA remove seals and monitoring cameras on all of its nuclear facilities. The Director General said, "it is essential that the containment and surveillance measures which are currently in place continue to be maintained, and that the DPRK not take any steps unilaterally to remove or impede the functioning of such seals or cameras. Any such action," he added, "would not be in compliance with the requirements of the IAEA-DPRK Safeguards Agreement." Dr. ElBaradei also asked the DPRK to agree to an urgent meeting of technical experts to discuss the practical arrangements involved in moving from the "freeze" to normal safeguards operations, and particularly how the IAEA will fulfil its verification requirements under the IAEA-DPRK Safeguards Agreement. He called upon all concerned parties to the Agreed Framework to renew their commitment to its terms and to enter into a dialogue aimed at a resolution of the issue by peaceful means. "The Agreed Framework was key to overcoming the 1994 nuclear crisis in DPRK and continues to serve as an important instrument for maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Dr. ElBaradei said. The Agreed Framework was concluded in 1994 with the aim of ensuring that the DPRK comes into full compliance with its safeguards agreement, in return for energy supply to the DPRK, including the provision of two light-water power reactors - the KEDO project. Pursuant to a 1994 UN Security Council request and in accordance with the Agreed Framework, the IAEA has been monitoring since November 1994 the "freeze" of the DPRK's graphite moderated reactors and related facilities at Nyongbyong. To this end, it has maintained a continuous inspector presence at this site. IV. Remarks by White House Press SecretaryRemarks by White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, White House Press Briefing, December 12. The statement that North Korea made, that it plans to resume the operation and construction of its nuclear facilities, is regrettable. The announcement flies in the face of international consensus that the North Korean regime must fulfil all its commitments, and in particular, dismantle its nuclear weapons program. We seek a peaceful resolution to the situation that North Korea has created. As the president said, we have no intentions of invading North Korea. The international community has made it clear that North Korea's relations with the outside world hinge on the elimination of its nuclear weapons program. The next step is for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in a visible and verifiable manner. We will consult with friends and allies regarding an appropriate response to this latest move by the North Korean regime. Finally, the United States has always been open to dialogue in principle, and was prepared for a comprehensive approach to improving US-North Korean relations before the disclosure of North Korea's clandestine uranium enrichment program. However, the United States will not enter into dialogue in response to threats or broken commitments, and we will not bargain or offer inducements for North Korea to live up to the treaties and agreements it has signed. Source: White House Regrets North Korea's Decision on Nuclear Facility, US State Department (Washington File), December 12. V. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson'Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Question from Russian and Foreign Media Regarding the DPRK's Decision to Unfreeze Its Nuclear Program', Russian Foreign Ministry (http://www.mid.ru), Document 2571-12-12-2002, December 12. Moscow has received with deep concern the statement by the DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman about the country's decision to "unfreeze its nuclear program" following the termination of supplies of compensatory heavy oil to Pyongyang that had been made under the 1994 Agreed Framework between the DPRK and the United States. The position of Russia is well known. We are for the strict observance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, implementation of the IAEA safeguards agreements, and the denuclearized status of the Korean Peninsula. Russia is calling upon the parties concerned to solve the existing problems through dialogue on the basis of the earlier reached accords, including the 1994 Agreed Framework, which will undoubtedly serve to normalize the situation in the region. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |