ID :
24744
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 09:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/24744
The shortlink copeid
IAEA dissatisfied with role in verifying N. Korean nuke
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. nuclear watchdog has expressed discontent over its projected role in verifying North Korea's atomic weapons program, a South Korean government official said Thursday.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Mohamed ElBaradei delivered
the position to South Korea's Vice Foriegn Minister Kwon Jong-rak during their
meeting earlier this week at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, the official
said.
"The IAEA director expressed regret that his agency will play a consultative and
support role, not a leading role, in verifying North Korea's nuclear program,"
the Foreign Ministry official said. He asked not to be named, as his ministry has
not made public the meeting between ElBaradei and Kwon.
ElBaradei presented several reasons why the IAEA should spearhead the
verification process, including the fact that it is the world's most
authoritative body on inspection of nuclear facilities, according to the
official. He provided no other details.
North Korea has agreed to allow the U.S. and the four other dialogue partners in
the disarmament talks to take part in the verification process. In return for the
compromise announced last weekend, Pyongyang was removed from the U.S. list of
state sponsors of terrorism. The four nations are South Korea, China, Russia, and
Japan.
The deal gives the IAEA "an important consultative and support role," though
specific details on the nature of the IAEA's role have yet to be decided.
North Korea has balked at the IAEA's participation in the verification process,
apparently mindful of the agency's demand for "special inspections" of the
secretive nation's nuclear facilities in the early 1990s.
Those inspections were aimed at granting inspectors access to nuclear
installations unannounced and without prior approval from Pyongyang. The North
rejected the IAEA proposal and withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Under the latest verification deal, however, international experts must have
Pyongyang's consent before inspecting sites not included in the North's June
declaration of its nuclear inventory.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. nuclear watchdog has expressed discontent over its projected role in verifying North Korea's atomic weapons program, a South Korean government official said Thursday.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Mohamed ElBaradei delivered
the position to South Korea's Vice Foriegn Minister Kwon Jong-rak during their
meeting earlier this week at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, the official
said.
"The IAEA director expressed regret that his agency will play a consultative and
support role, not a leading role, in verifying North Korea's nuclear program,"
the Foreign Ministry official said. He asked not to be named, as his ministry has
not made public the meeting between ElBaradei and Kwon.
ElBaradei presented several reasons why the IAEA should spearhead the
verification process, including the fact that it is the world's most
authoritative body on inspection of nuclear facilities, according to the
official. He provided no other details.
North Korea has agreed to allow the U.S. and the four other dialogue partners in
the disarmament talks to take part in the verification process. In return for the
compromise announced last weekend, Pyongyang was removed from the U.S. list of
state sponsors of terrorism. The four nations are South Korea, China, Russia, and
Japan.
The deal gives the IAEA "an important consultative and support role," though
specific details on the nature of the IAEA's role have yet to be decided.
North Korea has balked at the IAEA's participation in the verification process,
apparently mindful of the agency's demand for "special inspections" of the
secretive nation's nuclear facilities in the early 1990s.
Those inspections were aimed at granting inspectors access to nuclear
installations unannounced and without prior approval from Pyongyang. The North
rejected the IAEA proposal and withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Under the latest verification deal, however, international experts must have
Pyongyang's consent before inspecting sites not included in the North's June
declaration of its nuclear inventory.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
