U.S. Questions North Korean Commitment to Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Talks

A senior U. S. official on Monday questioned North Korea’s commitment to the six-nation nuclear disarmament process, the Yonhap News Agency reported today (see GSN, March 28).

Washington remains committed to the six-nation negotiations but will also continue its crackdown on Pyongyang’s alleged financial misconduct and illegal drug smuggling, said Stephen Rademaker, acting assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation.

“The United States is committed to utilizing all tools available to protect against illicit North Korean activities, including efforts to end currency counterfeiting and smuggling, money laundering, and revenue generated from the illicit transfer of WMD materials and equipment,” Rademaker said.

North Korea has used the financial issue to take the nuclear negotiations “hostage,” he said.

“Such behavior calls into question North Korea’s commitment to the (six-party) joint statement and the complete and verifiable elimination of its nuclear programs,” he said (Yonhap News Agency I, March 29).

South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok said yesterday that certain factions within Washington might be impeding resolution of the nuclear issue, Yonhap reported.

“There now also exist voices that they need to first confirm the North’s willingness to open up, and that it may be better to tackle other issues such as the human rights issue at the same time,” Lee said.

While such beliefs do not predominate in the Bush administration, according to Lee, they are beginning to influence the nuclear standoff.

“This may provide a significant amount of opportunities for us (South Korean government). But what is clear, I believe, is that it is disrupting other countries’ concentration on resolving the nuclear issue,” Lee said.

“I think there are no other ways but to try (to bring North Korea back to the negotiations) by mobilizing every available communication channel with the North,” he added. “I cannot say how long our efforts will last or whether the situation will head for the worst” (Yonhap News Agency II, March 29).

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