North Korea Paid Off

N.Korea seeks oil for halting nuclear reactor: media
Sun Feb 4, 2007 6:35am ET


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TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea's top nuclear envoy has told former U.S. officials that Pyongyang wants more than half a million tonnes of fuel oil a year in return for suspending its atomic reactor, a Japanese daily said on Sunday.

Shutting down North Korea's sole operating reactor is expected to be a key negotiating point when six-country discussions on ending the North's nuclear weapons programme resume in Beijing on Thursday, analysts said.

The Asahi Shimbun said North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan had set out Pyongyang's position when he met former State Department official Joel Witt and nuclear expert David Albright in the North Korean capital last week.

The demand would exceed the energy assistance received by the impoverished communist state under an 1994 deal with Washington, which collapsed when the current nuclear crisis began in 2002.

Kim and other North Korean officials said the country would halt the operation of its reactor at Yongbyon if it obtained energy assistance equivalent to more than 500,000 tonnes of fuel oil a year, the Asahi said, quoting the two Americans.

North Korean officials also demanded that Washington lift its financial sanctions against the country as well as removing North Korea from the list of "terrorism-sponsoring" nations, it said.
Kim was likely to have made the demands to U.S. counterpart Christopher Hill at unprecedented meetings the two men held in Berlin last month, but might have decided to reiterate them to seek concessions when the six-party talks resume, Asahi said.

OPTIMISM Continued...

From the beginning, the United States has shown a different ideology in dealing with the North Koreans. They were talking nuclear weapons prior to the start of the Iraqi war. Now, it seems the North Koreans have realized their substantial power in dealing with America. It seems kind of preposterous of them suggest they should be paid to stop producing nuclear weapons. After considering why they would have this perspective, it is a totally rational way of thinking.

The North Koreans stated they would use a nuclear reactor without any admonitions. They had three years to put forth any ideas or technology dealing with this area of expertise. Weapons have been tested and re-tested. Now, in regards to North Korea, we seem to want to negotiate with a country who has remained adamant in their position and stance after being forewarned without repercussions.

Now, do you suppose I am bit slow? I suppose I am confused. The best confusion may spawn great ideas, though. Let us suppose we treat Iran as if they have not gained any knowledge in production of nuclear weapons. Let us also suppose they have not gained enough experience to be able to accurately make nuclear weapons. Let us suppose they have just begun the journey which the North Koreans have travelled to the end of the road.

Now, considering all of the prior ramblings, how can we not negotiate with Iran or Syria, but bow down before the great North Koreans? Now, how should this particular stance taken by America be construed as a symbol of strength to the rational people of the international community. Possibly, hoping to accommodate them with their suggestions...hmmm.