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Seoul warns US-India nuke deal could set bad example
Seoul (AFP) Sept 11, 2007 A South Korean envoy has warned that a controversial US civilian nuclear deal with India could set a bad precedent for North Korea. Chun Yung-Woo, Seoul's chief negotiator to six-party talks on terminating North Korea's nuclear ambitions, was speaking at a forum Monday. His comments, reported by local media Tuesday, were confirmed by the foreign ministry. "The United States has made an exception for India and I am afraid North Korea will come back and ask: Why not us?" Chun said. India struck a controversial deal with the United States, allowing it to buy US civilian nuclear technology while possessing nuclear weapons despite not having signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. North Korea, under a six-nation deal, has agreed to abandon its nuclear programmes in return for economic, security and diplomatic benefits. It has already shut down its only operating reactor ahead of a full declaration and disabling of all nuclear programmes by the end of this year. "If North Korea denuclearises fully and says...that it wants the start of construction of a light-water nuclear reactor, then I think there can be a deal," Chun said. "But if it insists that a reactor be provided before it abandons its fissile material and nuclear explosive devices, then I think devising a new international system along the lines of the US-India nuclear deal would take decades, if ever. It would pose a big problem." Chun also criticised John Bolton, a hardline and blunt-spoken former US diplomat who angered North Korea with his strong criticisms in the run-up to six-party talks in 2003. "We are still struggling to undo the damage done by John Bolton," Chun said in an unusually public personal attack. "Without his perfectionist approach, I don't think North Korea would be where it is now in terms of its nuclear capabilities." Chun praised progress made in the six-party talks that began in 2003. "The year 2007 has been an especially bad year for sceptics," he said. "And I hope it continues that way." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Iran nuclear cooperation will be 'positive' for oil market: minister
Vienna (AFP) Sept 11, 2007Iran's cooperation with the UN atomic watchdog will have a "positive impact on energy markets," the Iranian oil minister said at a conference of petroleum-exporting countries Tuesday in Vienna. |
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