North Korea Expresses Interest in Compensation for Nuclear Freeze

North Korea Expresses Interest in Compensation for Nuclear Freeze. March. 30, 2004 22:22. by Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ban Ki-moon, who is currently visiting China, stated on March 30, “According to the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, North Korea has expressed intentions to accept the U.S.’ demand for ‘complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling (CVID)’ of its nuclear programs.”

At a social gathering with Korean correspondents stationed in Beijing on that day, Minister Ban said, “During his stay in North Korea on March 23-25, Mr. Li held a discussion with Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il for an hour and a half, and held a lengthy conversation with North Korean leaders on issues of nuclear arms programs and the perspective of the community of nations.” He added, “North Korea especially expressed the usefulness of a six-party talk and participation in working group conferences, and emphasized ‘economic compensation and security guarantees’ in exchange of freezing its nuclear programs.”

Minister Ban also stated, “It is difficult for us to accept the Geneva agreement standard as North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear programs during the 1994 Geneva agreement”, and added, “(Addressed to Mr. Li) we emphasized the fact that a plus alpha, which expresses intentions to abolish the essence of nuclear programs, is needed.”

He continued, “In case North Korea agrees to freeze its nuclear programs and ultimately abolish its nuclear arms according to the CVID principle, the U.S. has reconfirmed its position to provide security compensation. In addition, South Korea as well is making every effort concerning the compensation in exchange for the freeze.”