ID :
65637
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 19:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/65637
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea`s uranium program complicates nuclear talks
SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea confirmed Saturday that it has succeed in
developing uranium enrichment technology, ending seven years of international
speculation about whether the secretive communist state has pursued an
alternative nuclear program widely viewed as more dangerous than its existing
plutonium-based activity.
The North's announcement also further complicates the already-troubled six-way
talks, which focused on dismantling the North's plutonium-based program.
Suspicions over the North's uranium enrichment ambitions triggered the ongoing
nuclear crisis, which follows a similar series of events in the early 1990s. The
current crisis surrounding North Korea's nuclear activities began when the United
States announced in 2002 that Pyongyang officials had admitted to then U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly that it had a covert uranium-enrichment
program.
Intelligence officials in the Bush administration pointed to North Korea's
large-scale purchasing of aluminum tubes as evidence of this activity. Pakistan
also acknowledged providing North Korea with a sample centrifuge kit, and some
guessed the North might have enriched uranium using the Pakistani equipment.
But the North publicly denied the allegations, calling them a U.S.-led conspiracy
to pressure Pyongyang.
U.S. officials also suggested that North Korea might have tried to start such a
program but did not get far, while North Korea watchers have continued to raise
concerns about the issue.
On Saturday, North Korea put an end to the mystery by declaring that it has made
progress in developing uranium enrichment technology.
"The process of uranium enrichment will be commenced," the North's foreign
ministry said in an English statement issued in response to new U.N. Security
Council sanctions punishing Pyongyang for its second nuclear test on May 25.
"Pursuant to the decision to build its own light-water reactor, enough success
has been made in developing uranium enrichment technology to provide nuclear fuel
to allow the experimental procedure," it added.
The announcement marked a follow-up to the North's threat in April that it will
build its own light-water reactor and begin work to develop fuel unless the U.N.
Security Council offers an apology for the condemnation of its long-range rocket
launch on April 5. Many experts viewed the North's remark as a threat to pursue a
second nuclear program by enriching uranium.
Many officials and experts say it is difficult to detect uranium enrichment
activity, and that although it can be used for peaceful purposes it could be
easily converted into a nuclear weapons production process.
"North Korea made public its uranium enrichment program. There will be no more
disputes on whether the current nuclear crisis was caused by false allegations by
the U.S. on North Korea's uranium enrichment program," said Yoon Deok-min of the
Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, a state-funded South Korean
think tank.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
developing uranium enrichment technology, ending seven years of international
speculation about whether the secretive communist state has pursued an
alternative nuclear program widely viewed as more dangerous than its existing
plutonium-based activity.
The North's announcement also further complicates the already-troubled six-way
talks, which focused on dismantling the North's plutonium-based program.
Suspicions over the North's uranium enrichment ambitions triggered the ongoing
nuclear crisis, which follows a similar series of events in the early 1990s. The
current crisis surrounding North Korea's nuclear activities began when the United
States announced in 2002 that Pyongyang officials had admitted to then U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly that it had a covert uranium-enrichment
program.
Intelligence officials in the Bush administration pointed to North Korea's
large-scale purchasing of aluminum tubes as evidence of this activity. Pakistan
also acknowledged providing North Korea with a sample centrifuge kit, and some
guessed the North might have enriched uranium using the Pakistani equipment.
But the North publicly denied the allegations, calling them a U.S.-led conspiracy
to pressure Pyongyang.
U.S. officials also suggested that North Korea might have tried to start such a
program but did not get far, while North Korea watchers have continued to raise
concerns about the issue.
On Saturday, North Korea put an end to the mystery by declaring that it has made
progress in developing uranium enrichment technology.
"The process of uranium enrichment will be commenced," the North's foreign
ministry said in an English statement issued in response to new U.N. Security
Council sanctions punishing Pyongyang for its second nuclear test on May 25.
"Pursuant to the decision to build its own light-water reactor, enough success
has been made in developing uranium enrichment technology to provide nuclear fuel
to allow the experimental procedure," it added.
The announcement marked a follow-up to the North's threat in April that it will
build its own light-water reactor and begin work to develop fuel unless the U.N.
Security Council offers an apology for the condemnation of its long-range rocket
launch on April 5. Many experts viewed the North's remark as a threat to pursue a
second nuclear program by enriching uranium.
Many officials and experts say it is difficult to detect uranium enrichment
activity, and that although it can be used for peaceful purposes it could be
easily converted into a nuclear weapons production process.
"North Korea made public its uranium enrichment program. There will be no more
disputes on whether the current nuclear crisis was caused by false allegations by
the U.S. on North Korea's uranium enrichment program," said Yoon Deok-min of the
Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, a state-funded South Korean
think tank.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
