November 5, 2003
HAWKEYE CAN FINALLY COME HOME:
U.S. has proposed peace accord to North (KANAKO TAKAHARA, Nov. 6, 2003, The Japan Times)
The United States has proposed to North Korea a multinational peace agreement on the Korean Peninsula on condition that Pyongyang abandon its nuclear arms program. [...]"The U.S. made the proposal some time ago," the official said on condition of anonymity. "But there are still many things to consider, such as how to (verify North Korea's) abandonment of its nuclear weapons."
The U.S. reportedly made the proposal during three-way talks that included North Korea and China in April, and again at six-nation talks in August that were held to resolve the North's nuclear crisis. The other three members at the six-way talks were South Korea, Japan and Russia.
The agreement will be concluded if Pyongyang agrees to abandon its nuclear ambitions and resolves issues on biological and chemical weapons, according to the Japanese daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun, which broke the news of the U.S. proposal earlier in the day.
It'd be more useful in the long term to destroy their nuclear sites, but they seem to be falling apart too fast to make it worthwhile. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 5, 2003 6:29 PM
What are the chances of NKo actually agreeing to tough inspections ?
IMO, poor.
Mr. Judd;
This is likely a piece of the fact that (as you note later) North Korea's nuclear effort is stalling while their economy is declining even faster than was thought. As long as the collapse happens early enough compared to significant nuclear weapons production, we're best off to stall. I think President Bush's handling of this situation is looking better all the time. He may yet achieve some good despite a truly desparate starting position.
AOG:
That's great where NK is concerned, but if we want to deter others, wouldn't blowing ip their facilities serve a clearer message?
Posted by: oj at November 6, 2003 11:38 AM