North Korea - insists
on retaining the right to use nuclear technology
for peaceful purposes
Citing the right as natural for any sovereign
state, North Korea says it won't abandon its light-water
reactor energy program.
※ During the 4th round of the talks, a comment by
North Korea Foreign Minister Baek Nam-sun at the
ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) Minister-level talks
in Laos concerning 'North Korea's return to the
NPT' alludes to an NPT member state's right to use
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
North
Korea Vice-Minister Kim Gye-gwan remarks during
the recess period that the U.S. must alter its
position from "that of disallowing any form
of nuclear technology whatsoever"
U.S. - light-water reactors
out of the question / all nuclear technology subject
to CVID
Citing
North Korea's 1994 violation of the Geneva Agreement
and the possibility of using light-water reactors
to develop weapons, the U.S. maintains that North
Korea must give up its light-water reactor energy
program.
That
is, all nuclear technology must be abandoned and
the DRPK must abide by international conventions
(re-establish NPT membership, etc.).
Assistant
Secretary of State Hill urged North Korea delegation
to "return to Pyongyang and explain that the
light-water reactors are simply not on the table"
South Korea-China -
mediation efforts
China
: proposes that North Korea "abide by duties
and enjoy rights as an NPT member" / rejected
by North Korea
South
Korea : proposes that North Korea "abide
by duties and enjoy rights to use nuclear technology
for peaceful purposes as an NPT member" /
rejected by the U.S.
※ South Korea has proposed that electricity be
sent directly to the DRPK, satisfying both the
US's insistence of no light-water reactors and
North Korea's demand for energy
|
Longest round of
the six-party talks / efforts to arrive at Joint
Declaration
The
13-month gap in the disarmament talks has prompted
nations to take on a more earnest and practical
approach to the negotiations. Moreover, there
is a shared determination to produce concrete
results.
Although
there were concerns that several 'hot issues'
including HEU, arms reduction, human rights, and
missiles, might emerge during the negotiations,
both the U.S. and North Korea have limited themselves
to only general statements on these topics. This
suggests that both states are participating in
the 4th round of talks with a more practical attitude,
with the objective of arriving at concrete agreements.
※ Only Japan has raised the issue of kidnapped
Japanese citizens and North Korea's missiles,
to the anxiety of the other participating states
wishing to draw working-level conclusions.
The
original 4-day schedule was extended to 13 days
of some 100 sessions of bilateral/multilateral
contact between the participant states. 'Small
meetings of senior delegates' were held for the
first time, producing practical results
Progress in U.S.-North
Korea negotiations and mutual understanding
Over
the 13 days of intense contact and negotiation,
the six participants made substantial progress
in adjusting positions. In particular, some 10
U.S.-North Korea contact sessions took on the
nature of 'consultations for the adjustment of
views' rather than mere conversation.
Although
North Korea's peaceful use of nuclear technology
remains an issue, consistent consultations have
led to clear U.S. recognition of North Korea's
will to abandon its nuclear program along with
the 'difficulties' North Korea faces in the actual
implementation of such. North Korea, in turn,
has observed a more flexible U.S. position and
obtained U.S. consent to eventually normalize
U.S.-North Korea relations through a bilateral
framework
※ South Korea was seen as playing a major role
in coordinating U.S.-North Korea communication
and drawing agreement between the three parties
(U.S./SK/NK) as an active mediator.
Recess period announced
to retain momentum
Participants
hoped to be able to put together a 'Joint Declaration'
rather than a 'Chairman's Statement', but remaining
issues such as the peaceful use of nuclear technology
have so far prevented them from doing so.
Instead
of ending the 4th round, participating states
introduced a recess period for the purpose of
preparing a 'Joint Declaration on Principles and
Objectives' that may serve as the basis for the
next round of talks.
General agreement on
principles such as the denuclearization of the
Peninsula
The
six participating states reconfirmed their shared
will for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea has expressed willingness to abandon
its nuclear weapons program, while other states
have clarified their positions concerning concessions
and support (such as energy aid). Moreover, the
U.S. has expressed willingness to normalize relations
with North Korea.
China,
tas a mediator, has drawn up four separate drafts
of a Joint Declaration containing general and
inclusive articles on the issues presented during
the 4th round of the talks. Also included in the
drafts is an article on 'establishing peace on
the Peninsula', suggesting that discussions to
upgrade the current armistice to a peace treaty
may be possible.
※ It is noteworthy that the drafts presented by
China are based on the 1992 SK/NK 'Joint Statement
for the Denuclearization of the Peninsula'. |