Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 14, 2002
US Urges DPRK to Abide by Nuclear Agreement
The United States on Tuesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abide by an agreed framework designed to freeze DPRK's nuclear program.
The United States on Tuesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abide by an agreed framework designed to freeze DPRK's nuclear program.
"We expect the DPRK to abide by the fact and the spirit of the agreement. We've stated many times that the United States will continue to abide by the terms of the accord as long as North Korea (the DPRK) does the same," State Department spokesman PhilipReeker told a news briefing, responding to a recent statement by DPRK foreign ministry that the agreement "stands at the crossroads of abrogation or preservation."
"We've emphasized that it's critical for North Korea (the DPRK)to begin cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and to meet all of its other obligations as stipulated in the Agreed Framework," he said.
The spokesman noted that the DPRK's cooperation with the IAEA and compliance with the Nonproliferation Treaty is a "necessary and critical step" for full implementation of the Agreed Frameworksigned in 1994.
The DPRK has been accusing the United States of dragging its feet on implementing the Agreed Framework and demanding US compensation for losses arising from delay in building alternative nuclear power plants.