U.S. repeats concerns over N. Korea-Myanmar military cooperation

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The United States Monday reiterated concerns over
military cooperation between North Korea and Myanmar, but fell short of
elaborating on what kind of cooperation the two reclusive regimes are seeking.
"We do have concerns about the nature of cooperation between both Burma and North
Korea, and North Korea and any other country," Philip Crowley, assistant
secretary of state for public affairs, told a daily news briefing. "I think, over
time, we would like to clarify with Burma more precisely the nature of its
military cooperation."
Crowley was responding to reports that Myanmar has an underground nuclear
facility built with the help of North Korea. Myanmar was formerly known as Burma.
The spokesman recalled U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton???s recent remarks
that she "was encouraged that Burma said that it would abide by its
responsibilities, you know, under the sanctions that were recently passed by the
U.N."
Clinton last month expressed "growing concerns" over "military cooperation between
North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously," but said that Myanmar has
also joined international efforts to sanction North Korea.
She was apparently referring to a North Korean cargo ship that was possibly
heading to Myanmar, but returned home recently after being pursued by U.S. Navy
vessels. The vessels were operating under an interdiction mandate imposed by a
resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council for North Korea's nuclear test on
May 25, the second since its first test in 2006.
The resolution bans North Korea from conducting any further nuclear and ballistic
missile tests while imposing an overall arms embargo, financial sanctions and an
cargo interdiction on high seas to prevent proliferation of North Korean
missiles, nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction.
Pyongyang responded by saying it will boycott six-party talks on ending its
nuclear programs for good, and demanded that Washington deal with Pyongyang
bilaterally to resolve the standoff over North Korea's nuclear and missile
programs.
The U.S., however, said it will have bilateral negotiations only within the
six-party framework.
Crowley said he hopes Myanmar will abide by its commitment to sanction North
Korea, saying the Barack Obama administration will continue imposing the
sanctions under the resolution until the North agrees to its denuclearization.
"And we will be looking to see them implement those sanctions," he said. "And as
the secretary did during her recent trip, she argued quite forcefully that all
countries have responsibilities regarding the U.N. sanctions, and we are hard at
implementing them."
hdh@yna.co.kr
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