The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization is expected to send a shipment of fuel oil to North Korea today in accordance with the 1994 Agreed Framework under which North Korea promised to conduct no nuclear weapon activities in exchange for receiving two nuclear power plants and fuel oil, among other things (see GSN, Nov. 4).

North Korean officials last month acknowledged that the country has maintained a nuclear programs in violation of the 1994 agreement (see GSN, Oct. 17).

A tanker loaded with 46,800 tons of heavy fuel oil is expected to leave Singapore today and arrive in North Korea 10 to 12 days later, according to the New York Times.  The United States, which is a member of the KEDO executive board, opposes the fuel oil shipment, but has been unable to persuade other board members — South Korea, Japan and the European Union — to agree, officials said.

“KEDO works on consensus basis,” an official with the organization said.  “The U.S. alone can’t make this decision.”

The KEDO executive board is scheduled to meet in New York within two weeks, which would give it time to order the tanker to turn around before unloading the fuel, the Times reported (James Dao, New York Times, Nov. 5).

Meanwhile, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg arrived in Seoul today after a four-day trip to North Korea (see GSN, Nov. 1; Korea Times, Nov. 6).

For further information, see:

Agreed Framework Text

KEDO

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