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Pyongyang Contacts U.S., Possibly About Nuke Talks
North Korea has contacted the United States in recent days, possibly indicating a willingness to resume negotiations on its nuclear program, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, June 6). The Security Council option “is something we’re giving increased study to,” said the official, who added that “probably we’ll come to a decision in the next few weeks,” after a scheduled visit by South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (Sanger/Shanker, New York Times, June 6). Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, however, refuted that comment yesterday, the Washington Post reported. “The idea that within weeks we are going to decide one way or another is a little forward-leaning,” said Rice (Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, June 6). Rumsfeld today also played down the comments on expedited Security Council referral, Reuters reported. “There’s been no decision with respect to that at all,” said Rumsfeld. “The secretary of state (Rice) has spoken on it. I’ve spoken on it. The president (Bush) has spoken on it. The government of the United States is on the path of six-party talks and that’s where it is,” he said. Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, however, said today that taking the issue to the U.N. for action short of economic sanctions or other penalties would be appropriate. “A statement by the Council president or a resolution, saying as a representative of international society to North Korea that they should return to the talks as soon as possible — this would have plenty of diplomatic meaning,” said Machimura (Carol Giacomo, Reuters, June 6). The recent U.S.-North Korea contacts indicating a possible return to dialogue were made through the North Korean mission to the U.N., the Times reported. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and special envoy on the issue Christopher Hill is asking for leeway to offer Pyongyang incentives to return to talks, according to officials close to Hill. However, administration officials remain resistant to the idea. “How many times do you bid against yourself?” said one senior administration official. “How many times do you do that?” Richard Haass, director of policy planning at the State Department during Bush’s first term, was critical of the administration’s approach in a newly published book. Haass writes that the Bush approach is a “diluted hybrid” of diplomatic options that lost “valuable time” to keep North Korea from further developing its nuclear capability. A vague U.S. proposal put forth in June, largely drafted by Stephen Hadley, now the national security adviser, fell “short of what the North would accept” but also failed “to include any clear penalties for refusing to cooperate,” Haass wrote. Haass has also said Washington should make clear to Pyongyang that any retaliation for a potential U.S. decision to attack its nuclear sites would “lead to a war that would end with regime change, that is their removal from power, and the effective end to North Korea as a separate state.” South Korea, however, is opposed to such a warning, the Times reported. Roh is expected to present Bush with a new set of more detailed incentives for North Korea during his visit (New York Times, June 6). Meanwhile, some portion of the 15 F-117A Nighthawks which the United States is deploying to South Korea has arrived, Reuters reported today. Pyongyang has denounced the deployment, saying it is part of U.S. plans for an invasion of the North Korea. “The deployment has begun but it has not been completed,” a U.S. Forces Korea spokesman said without providing further details on the deployment schedule (Reuters, June 6).
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