Major Foreign Policy Victory: North Korea Scraps Nuclear Arms Program

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Today: September 18, 2005 at 21:51:39 PDT
North Korea Vows to Drop Nuclear Programs


ASSOCIATED PRESS


BEIJING (AP) -

North Korea pledged to drop its nuclear weapons development and rejoin international arms treaties in a unanimous agreement Monday at six-party arms talks. The agreement was the first-ever joint statement after more than two years of negotiations.

The North "promised to drop all nuclear weapons and current nuclear programs and to get back to the (Nuclear) Nonproliferation Treaty as soon as possible and to accept inspections" by the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to the agreement by the six countries at the talks.

"All six parties emphasized that to realize the inspectable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the target of the six-party talks," the statement said.

The North and United States also pledged in the agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and right to peaceful coexistence.

"The United States affirmed that is has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has no intention to attack or invade (North Korea) with nuclear or conventional weapons," according to the statement, assurances echoed by South Korea.

The negotiations had been deadlocked over Pyongyang's demands that it retain the right to civilian nuclear programs after it disarms, and the statement acknowledges the North has made such an assertion but doesn't go beyond that.

North Korean officials had also demanded the country be given a light-water nuclear reactor at the latest talks - a type believed to be less easily diverted for weapons use - but Washington had said it and other countries at the talks wouldn't meet that request.

Putting aside the question for now, the joint statement said: "The other parties expressed their respect and agreed to discuss at an appropriate time the subject of the provision of light-water reactor" to North Korea.

"This is the most important result since the six-party talks started more than two years ago," said Wu Dawei, China's vice foreign minister.

The talks, which began in August 2003, include China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas.
Link
 
Everyone says they will cancel nuke programs to appease the might US. But in secret they stockpile in the night, preparing for the day they will strike!

Seriously you cant get rid of all nuke, its very nice that they try but honeslty no one completey trusts the other. They will always have nukes just as everyone else.
 
This is WONDERFUL news..

Everyone says they will cancel nuke programs to appease the might US. But in secret they stockpile in the night, preparing for the day they will strike!
Click to expand...

I also wonder about that..

But in all honesty, i'm so happy that this happened.. I thought there'd be a showdown for sure, I never thought we'd see an agreement.
 
It doesn't mention a key part:

In return the US made some conciliatory statements, affirming it had no nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula and "has no intention to attack or invade [North Korea] with nuclear or conventional weapons".

The joint statement also said China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the US were willing to provide energy assistance to North Korea, as well as promoting "economic co-operation in the fields of energy, trade and investment".

South Korea has already offered to deliver 2m kilowatts of electric power to the North.

The agreement also said that North Korea and Japan - who have been locked in a dispute about Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea - would "take steps to normalise their relations".
Click to expand...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4259128.stm
 
This is truly great news, although from what I read it is more a victory for China, which took the leadership role and hammered out the agreement, than for the U.S.

Still, a disarmed North Korea is a good thing for the entire world. Thank God someone stepped up and did something about it.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/18/AR2005091800403_pf.html

By Edward Cody
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, September 19, 2005; A01


BEIJING, Sept. 19 -- China announced Monday that negotiators from six nations have reached agreement under which North Korea pledged to dismantle its nuclear arms program in return for recognition and aid from the United States and its Asian allies.

Although it included only general terms, the accord marked the first specific agreement since the six-party negotiations opened under Chinese sponsorship in August 2003. It was designed to serve as the basis for further talks on the timing of the taking down of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the corresponding provision of economic aid and diplomatic relations and other inducements for the government of Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.

Although only preliminary, the agreement was a triumph for China, which has undertaken to host and referee the talks on a major Asian security problem. The mission has been a new exercise in leadership for China, emerging as a regional leader after years of standing on the sidelines and preaching non-interference in other countries' affairs.
 
[quote name='dennis_t']This is truly great news, although from what I read it is more a victory for China, which took the leadership role and hammered out the agreement, than for the U.S.

Still, a disarmed North Korea is a good thing for the entire world. Thank God someone stepped up and did something about it.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/18/AR2005091800403_pf.html

By Edward Cody
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, September 19, 2005; A01


BEIJING, Sept. 19 -- China announced Monday that negotiators from six nations have reached agreement under which North Korea pledged to dismantle its nuclear arms program in return for recognition and aid from the United States and its Asian allies.

Although it included only general terms, the accord marked the first specific agreement since the six-party negotiations opened under Chinese sponsorship in August 2003. It was designed to serve as the basis for further talks on the timing of the taking down of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the corresponding provision of economic aid and diplomatic relations and other inducements for the government of Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.

Although only preliminary, the agreement was a triumph for China, which has undertaken to host and referee the talks on a major Asian security problem. The mission has been a new exercise in leadership for China, emerging as a regional leader after years of standing on the sidelines and preaching non-interference in other countries' affairs.[/QUOTE]

If all it would take is some money and recognition then they could have settled this a long fucking time ago. But knowing Bush he was to concerned about Iraq and almost messed something else that is important up too.
 
[quote name='Ikohn4ever']now on to Iran[/QUOTE]

There are more difficult issues with Iran. One is they insist they are not intending to build nuclear weapons, unlike north korea. And with the debacle in Iraq, getting support for a war to stop wmd's, that no one knows will, or do, exist, again won't likely happen. Second, if they were to develop nuclear weapons, they have a legitimate case. The balance of power in the middle east is easily in Israels favor, not only are they the strongest country in the middle east, they have the worlds strong country as a protector. There have been wars and Israel has shown itself willing to strike first. Having nuclear weapons is the best protection Iran can have, and makes it less likely the u.s. would try to overthrow the current system, since it could mean a breakdown in security and the nukes could end up missing. And third, Iran has a strong, capable, intact military, does not have a population where the majority would like to see their government completely destroyed (unlike Iraq), is even more against u.s. interventiont han Iraq (primarily due to the whole shah thing), and would prove much harder to control than Iraq ever was.
 
[quote name='alonzomourning23']There are more difficult issues with Iran. One is they insist they are not intending to build nuclear weapons, unlike north korea. And with the debacle in Iraq, getting support for a war to stop wmd's, that no one knows will, or do, exist, again won't likely happen. Second, if they were to develop nuclear weapons, they have a legitimate case. The balance of power in the middle east is easily in Israels favor, not only are they the strongest country in the middle east, they have the worlds strong country as a protector. There have been wars and Israel has shown itself willing to strike first. Having nuclear weapons is the best protection Iran can have, and makes it less likely the u.s. would try to overthrow the current system, since it could mean a breakdown in security and the nukes could end up missing. And third, Iran has a strong, capable, intact military, does not have a population where the majority would like to see their government completely destroyed (unlike Iraq), is even more against u.s. interventiont han Iraq (primarily due to the whole shah thing), and would prove much harder to control than Iraq ever was.[/QUOTE]

Well said.

North Korea always pops up every few years threatening to do something. They want money, energy, and attention. I don't believe that they were a real threat.
Iran, on the other hand,...
 
[quote name='Derwood43']Well said.

North Korea always pops up every few years threatening to do something. They want money, energy, and attention. I don't believe that they were a real threat.
Iran, on the other hand,...[/QUOTE]

Iran is just in it for the chicks!
 
>>North Korea pledged to drop its nuclear weapons development and rejoin international arms treaties in a unanimous agreement Monday at six-party arms talks.

Cant say I believe them.
 
Unfortunately, as with so many "accomplishments" these days, this one apparently is not all it was cracked up to be. North Korea did not commit to a disarmament date, and could be given permission to operate a civilian power plant that would keep them in the nuclear game.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/i...=1127275200&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print


U.S.-Korean Deal on Arms Leaves Key Points Open
By JOSEPH KAHN and DAVID E. SANGER
BEIJING, Sept. 19 - After a tense weekend of heated debate within the Bush administration, the lead American negotiator with North Korea made one last call to Washington at noon on Monday, Beijing time, and then signed a statement of principles that committed North Korea, in black and white, to give up "all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs."

But the negotiator, Christopher Hill, had misgivings because the vaguely worded agreement left unaddressed the date disarmament would happen, and hinted at a concession to North Korea that President Bush and his aides had long said they would never agree to: discussing at an appropriate time providing North Korea with a civilian nuclear power plant, senior administration officials said.

The plant, a light-water reactor, cannot produce fuel for nuclear bombs as efficiently as North Korea's existing nuclear plants, but would keep the country in the nuclear business.

All day Monday, Washington time, the Bush administration said the only appropriate time would be well after North Korea dismantled all its nuclear facilities and allowed highly intrusive inspections of the country. On Monday evening, less than 24 hours after the deal was signed, North Korea declared that the United States "should not even dream" that it would dismantle its nuclear weapons before it receives a new nuclear plant.
 
[quote name='dennis_t']This is truly great news, although from what I read it is more a victory for China, which took the leadership role and hammered out the agreement, than for the U.S.[/QUOTE]

But you must understand that the U.S.'s strategy all along (at least since the beginning of the Bush administration) has been to get China to bring influence to bear in the negotiations, and finally it seems as if we're getting somewhere. Here's to hoping they are sincere and the inspections are faithfully and thoroughly carried out. In truth, it's a victory for all six parties.
 
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