North Korea claims right to nuclear weapons
Date: Tuesday, October 29 @ 08:44:02 UTC
Topic: North Korea
sg.news.yahoo.com, Nov. 01, 02
North Korea has a right to develop nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction because of a US threat to its sovereignty, Pyongyang's ambassador to Moscow said in the first firm defense of the Stalinist state's clandestine military program.
But rejecting US claims that it is actively acquiring such weapons, Pak Hui Chun denied that North Korea was actually developing a nuclear arsenal, calling the accusations "groundless."
"We unambiguously told the US presidential special envoy that, facing a growing nuclear threat from the US, we have the right to possess not only nuclear, but even more powerful weapons in order to defend our sovereignty and the right to survive," news agencies quoted Pak Hui Chun as saying.
"If the US tries to crush us with tough policy, we will retaliate to this with super toughness," he warned.
On a more conciliatory note, Pak said North Korea preferred to resolve its conflict with the United States "through talks, not deterrence."
"The fact that the Bush administration listed North Korea among countries making up an 'axis of evil' and included it on a list of targets for a preventive nuclear strike is definitely a declaration of war against North Korea," the Pyongyang diplomat said. Continue
N Korea 'will not end nuclear programme'
Abstract: BBC
North Korea has refused a Japanese demand that it scrap its nuclear weapons programme, according to a Japanese official.
But North Korea has been warning it is entitled to possess nuclear weapons and other "more powerful" weapons to defend itself against US "hostility".
South Korea's intelligence agency backed up that report on Monday, saying that its rogue neighbour possesses some 4,000 tonnes of biochemical weapons and has built as many as three crude nuclear weapons.
North Korea has already demonstrated that it can fire missiles beyond Japan - in 1998 it launched a rocket which flew over the Japanese archipelago. Continue
N Korea insists on talks with US to abandon N-plan
by Harvey Stockwin, Oct. 29, 02, indiatimes.com
Analysts have suggested that the North Korean disclosure that they were proceeding with uranium enrichment in violation of their 1994 agreement with the US was motivated by a desire to force the US to negotiate, and this reported remark would seem to confirm it.
But the North Korean posture on Tuesday further negates the naive South Korean and Japanese hope that by "engaging" the North in dialogue they could bring its pursuit of nuclear weapons to an end.
In Mexico, Kim and Koizumi declined to assent to the stronger worded joint statement that the Americans evidently sought. But several Japanese leaders, as well as Koizumi, have stressed that there can be no progress towards normalisation of ties if the nuclear issue is not solved. Continue
Nukes seen as check to 'U.S. imperialists'
October 28, 2002, Abstract: washtimes.com
SEOUL (AP) — North Korea, under fire from the United States, Japan and South Korea for breaking its promise to give up nuclear weapons, said yesterday that it needed its weapons to fight the "U.S. imperialists."
The statement said, "U.S. imperialism looks down upon those countries weak in military power, forces them to accept its brigandish demands and makes them a target of its military intervention and aggression."
"As a stick is the best to beat a wolf, so are arms to fight with the imperialists," said the paper. "It is essential to readily cope with the moves of the reactionaries all the time."
It also said that victory does not depend on weapons, but on "political and ideological readiness."
"If the U.S. gives legal assurances of nonaggression, including no use of nukes against [North Korea] through the nonaggression treaty, [North Korea] will be ready to clear the U.S. of its security concerns," said Minju Josun.
The two reports were carried by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency. Continue
N Korea sets terms for US talks
Friday, 25 October, 2002, BBC
North Korea says it is willing to address American concerns over its nuclear weapons programme, if Washington agrees to a non-aggression treaty. Continue
US weapons secrets exposed
by Julian Borger, Oct 29, 02, Guardian UK
Respected scientists on both sides of the Atlantic warned yesterday that the US is developing a new generation of weapons that undermine and possibly violate international treaties on biological and chemical warfare.
The scientists, specialists in bio-warfare and chemical weapons, say the Pentagon, with the help of the British military, is also working on "non-lethal" weapons similar to the narcotic gas used by Russian forces to end last week's siege in Moscow.
They also point to the paradox of the US developing such weapons at a time when it is proposing military action against Iraq on the grounds that Saddam Hussein is breaking international treaties. Continue
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