North Korea Nuclear Talks Resume Amid Optimism (NK agrees "in principle" to dismantle nukes)

[rcdean]

North Korea Nuclear Talks Resume Amid Optimism

Associated Press
February 8, 2007 11:38 a.m.



BEIJING -- North Korea agreed in principle Thursday to take initial steps toward dismantling its nuclear programs at the start of international talks seeking the first concrete progress on disarming Pyongyang.

The main U.S. negotiator said talks resumed on a positive note, and that sides were hoping to achieve an agreement on the first steps for the North's disarmament. "We had a good first day today," Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters. "We hope we can achieve some kind of joint statement here."

Unlike the last round of six-nation talks in December, Mr. Hill said the countries "were able to make progress on discussing denuclearization."

Negotiators are working to lay out the implementation of a September 2005 agreement in which the North pledged to disarm in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

Mr. Hill said a draft agreement expected from the Chinese hosts by Friday morning would detail a "set of actions taken in a finite amount of time." He declined to give specifics, but said the moves would take place in a matter of "single-digit weeks."


Seems to me this is pretty significant. But others in the MM have pretty much buried it, or at least have buried the NK statement which, imo, is the big news here.

Btw, the upshot of this, if it happens, will be that it is essentially a return to the policy of Bill Clinton which was so effective until Bushco came charging and dismantled it.

[treestar]

1. Returning to the policy of Bill Clinton would be a wise move

on many things.

This is good news for us but of course bad news for Bushco who are deprived of another threat to scare us all with.

[MrPrax]

2. no subscription here...

Washington poised for climbdown as Korea nuclear talks near deal

The US was poised for an embarrassing climbdown as a new round of six-nation talks over North Korea opened yesterday, the best hope for a breakthrough since the standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme began in 2002.

According to diplomats and foreign affairs experts, the Bush administration is likely to drop several of the sanctions it has imposed in the past five years in return for a freezing of the Yongbyon reactor and a return of international nuclear inspectors. This would take Washington's position almost back to the situation that existed before US officials started the current confrontation by accusing North Korea of secretly enriching uranium. Pyongyang, meanwhile, has conducted an atomic bomb test and declared itself a fully fledged member of the nuclear club.

...

The main cause for optimism was a rare meeting last month in Berlin between diplomats from Pyongyang and Washington. According to the Asahi newspaper of Japan, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding under which North Korea would make a step towards denuclearisation at the same time as the US resumed annual shipments of 500,000 tonnes of oil, which were halted in 2002.

Diplomatic sources said North Korea had agreed to freeze activities at its Yongbyon nuclear plant in return for an easing of restrictions on its overseas bank accounts and a move towards normalised diplomatic relations.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,,2009012,00.html">Guardian

I bolded the part about how the US government does TALK to it's enemies very quietly ... but, Americans have to find out about it from foreign sources posted in forums because no one in the American media is actually going to frame this debate as 'your screwed'.

[rcdean]

7. But isn't it interesting how the WaPo story buries the lede?

At least to me the big news is the NK rep reiterating they are ready to take the 1st step. The WaPo only mentions this in passing down deep in the story. Same with the NYT.

[BushOut06]

3. Mark my words - Condi will do something to fuck it up

We simply can't have the North Koreans acting rationally. I guarantee you that Kindasleezy will say or do something to piss the North Koreans off.

[Eugene]

4. Something like this?

(Reuters)

INTERVIEW-US wants N.Korea, Iran sanctions fully implemented
09 Feb 2007 19:57:10 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Louis Charbonneau and Thomas Krumenacker

MUNICH, Germany, Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt urged
on Friday all members of the United Nations to fully implement sanctions imposed on North
Korea and Iran over their nuclear programmes.

U.S. Treasury Department officials have been making the rounds in the European Union to
encourage countries to get tough with their businesses, some of which European diplomats
say have been reluctant to cut off business dealings with oil-rich Iran.

"Our focus now is a full and effective implementation of resolution 1737 with regard to Iran
and two resolutions that don't get enough attention, 1695 and 1718 on North Korea," Kimmitt
told Reuters at a security conference in Munich.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09703525.htm

Meanwhile: N. Korea nuclear envoys struggle on deal - AP

Since freezing Kim's bank accounts wrecked the previous accord,
the timing is interesting.

[Eugene]

5. AP: N. Korea Nuclear Envoys Struggle on Deal

N. Korea Nuclear Envoys Struggle on Deal


Friday February 9, 2007 9:31 PM

AP Photo TOK211

By JAE-SOON CHANG

Associated Press Writer

BEIJING (AP) - Negotiators at the North Korea nuclear talks haggled Friday over details
of initial steps to disarm the communist country, but the main U.S. envoy said he was
encouraged by agreements on broad principles.

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the remaining issues focused on a single
paragraph of a Chinese proposal for a set of reciprocal steps aimed at implementing a 2005
deal that calls for North Korea to disarm in exchange for security guarantees and aid.

Hill said the envoys were working to rewrite the text to address North Korea's concerns.
He did not give any details.

"It's hard to think that these issues would hold it up, it's hard to think that they would
be deal-breakers, but we have to see," Hill said. "I'm still cautiously optimistic."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6405371,00.html

[ohio2007]

6. aa actual deal was reached not long ago but the devil is in the details

to work out exactly who will supply what items to keep Kim's regime standing.

[Eugene]

8. Reuters: North Korea nuclear talks snag on aid for Pyongyang

North Korea nuclear talks snag on aid for Pyongyang
10 Feb 2007 13:19:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

By Teruaki Ueno and Jack Kim

BEIJING, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Talks to end North Korea's nuclear programme fell short of an
accord on Saturday, snagging on disputes over what aid Pyongyang would get for disarming,
but envoys said the gulf between the parties was narrowing.

Envoys from the two Koreas, the United States, Russia, Japan and host China focused on the
energy and aid incentives Pyongyang would receive in exchange for jettisoning its nuclear
weapons programmes.

But they could not bridge the gapn and the negotiations, on again and off again for more
than three years without a resolution, stretch into a fourth day on Sunday.

-snip-

A diplomatic source close to the talks said: "With respect to energy and economic aid for
North Korea, a huge gap remains between North Korea and the five countries in terms of
figures and volume."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N09460281.htm