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S. Korean Negotiator Outlines Plans for Disabling Pyongyang's Nuclear
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=165FA54:A6F02AD83191E160AA2BA77F86216FFE9574F7DCC14957C0 Seoul's main
envoy, Chun Yung-woo, also says N. Korea appears to at least have
beginnings of uranium-based nuclear weapons program A senior South
Korean official says that North Korea appears to at least have the
beginnings of a uranium-based nuclear weapons program. Seoul's top
negotiator in talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions also says
he thinks the North is committed to dismantling its nuclear
facilities. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin has more.







South Korea's top nuclear envoy Chun Yung-woo speaks during a press
conference at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, 23 Feb 2007Chun Yung-woo,
Seoul's main envoy to the six-party nuclear talks with North Korea,
said Friday that Pyongyang must explain its purchases that are
consistent with a uranium-based weapons program.

But North Korea has never publicly admitted to having a highly
enriched uranium, or HEU program, and until Friday, South Korea has
avoided taking an explicit stand on whether it exists.

"What North Korea has been procuring for the HEU program is already
well known," said Chun Yung-woo. "But we do not have full information
where the program itself stands now…. Nobody seems to believe that
they have an enrichment plant up and running but I cannot tell you how
far North Korea's enrichment program has evolved."

U.S. officials say North Korea admitted to having an HEU program in
2002, in violation of several agreements to not seek nuclear weapons.
That revelation led to three years of negotiations on Pyongyang's
nuclear programs.

This month, China, Russia, Japan, the United States and South Korea
agreed to provide 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to the North in
exchange for a shutdown of Pyongyang's main plutonium producing
facility.

Chun says there are positive indications that Pyongyang is committed
to the deal reached during talks in Beijing.

"All I can say is that they are determined to go all the way to
disablement in the initial stage," he said.

The South Korean diplomat says that on March 12, a working committee
set up at the Beijing talks will meet to discuss how to ship fuel to
North Korea.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, is to verify that the
Yongbyon reactor has been disabled by mid-April. Chun says the
inspectors' progress will determine how quickly North Korea gets its
fuel.

"We are ready to take the lead in providing emergency energy
assistance to North Korea … so once we know when the IAEA personnel
will return to the [North Korean nuclear] site, we can time our
shipment," he said.

A second phase of the Beijing agreement, which is to begin in April,
requires North Korea to fully declare all its nuclear programs and
materials.

Chun and his four negotiating partners say the most important aspect
of carrying out the Beijing deal is not to miss any deadlines. He says
the five nations are obligated to create an environment of trust and
confidence that will allow North Korea to take further steps toward
ending its nuclear programs.


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