Last October, the United States announced that North Korea had admitted to running a nuclear weapons program. Since then, tensions have been rising between the two nations.
North Korea states that it will not consider abandoning its nuclear program until the U.S. provides security against retaliation, and promises aid to the starving nation. Until recently, the U.S. has taken the opposite stance, saying it will not give any aid, or drop any sanctions, until North Korea completely destroys its nuclear program.
“That means … [the U.S.] promise not to shoot and we are supposed to lay down weapons first,” the North Korean statement said. “It’s a game even kids won’t play.”
In the latest rounds of talks with North Korea held in Beijing during early September, the Bush administration adopted a new strategy for dealing with North Korea. President Bush authorized negotiators to drop the insistence that North Korea ship its weapons out of the country and dismantle all of its nuclear facilities before any aid would be given.
The major differences in the policies involve timing. As long as the North Koreans begin to surrender their nuclear weapons and the facilities that develop them, then the U.S. is prepared to do a number of things to aid the nation, including a gradual lift of sanctions and work towards a peace treaty.
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, “[North Korea] must change its behavior and begin to take concrete steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.”
During the talks, North Korea agreed to disarm if the U.S. would resume free oil shipments, provide economic and humanitarian aid, sign a non-aggression treaty, and open diplomatic ties.
North Korea did not respond immediately to the new proposals.
Condoleezza Rice, United States National Security Advisor, said: “This is the best opportunity for getting a resolution for a long time. A lot depends on North Korean behavior.”
The discussions in Beijing lasted three days and drew delegates from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. Talks are expected to resume in October.