SN
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 61
Location: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ii4n-sky/
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 Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 1:33 am Post subject: Nuclear reactor in North Korea --- Sincerity????? |
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Light-water nuclear reactor stops --- its restart depends on North Korea's sincerity
On Nov. 4th, The unofficial council of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) came to an agreement that it would stop building the light water nuclear reactor in North Korea with time-limitation. The building began in 1997 according to the agreement between US and NK in 1997. Its aims was that NK would suspend developing all nuclear weapons and that it would help NK to supply enegy to people in exchange that NK would give up its developing at last.
But in October last year it was brought to light that NK,breaking the agreement, started on the nuclear development with Uranium enrichment. Additionally NK escalated its brinksmanship by dissolving the nuclear developing freeze, withdrawing from NPT and its declaration to possess nuclear weapons.
This makes light weight nuclear reactor plan meaningless. Total building expense is 46 billion dollar, 70% of which was to be paid by SouthKorea. Japan was to pay 10 billion dollar (22%).
13 countries or organasations of Asia and Europe participates in KEDO. It is natural that it suspens the building because NK didn't keep its promise with international society.
On this issue,US called for complete cancellation, but South Korea was stick to continueing the building. They finally agreed to the "suspending to build with time limitation" which was proposed by Japan.
Next problem is the outlook of this issue. The dicision of the unofficial council was not the complete cancellation to build the reactor. It has possilility to restart building when the nuclear problem is going to solution after one year observation term. Due to that, it is ready to continue to exist the KEDO office and the bureau is ready to visit NK to explain the process if necessary.
In that sense, it is appropriate that the problem came to the conclusion of suspension with time limitation. On the nuclear issue, all countries are making efforts in order to resume the six nations talks in this year. It is a meaningful diplomatic card to keep the unity of "dialog and pressure" between US/Japan/Korea and to show the practical goal of a light weight nuclear reactor to NK.
China doesn't participated in KEDO. But it has supplied most oil and food to NK. In the process of the mediation toward the reopen of the six nations talks, Japan/US/Korea has to give full explanation about its aim and reason to China.
NK has to examin the meaning of the dicision well. It is a coufusion of the order of the things that NK will make use of this issue in the negotiation to resume the six nation talks. NK has to review its promise in the framework agreement and to mull over that its irresponsible conduct led the reactor building to its suspension.
This lightweight nuclear reactor affair can become an important footstep to finish the dangerous nuclear proliferation in Korean Peninsula and to build the peaceful order in Eastern Asia. It depends on NK whether the building will be resumed.
NK has to cooperate with the resume of six nation talks in order to solve its isolation in the international society and to solve the nuclear issue. Showing its faithful attitude is the best way to get the energy and finantial support which NK wants |
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