South Korea Denies Report on Possible US Raid on DPRK

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 14, 2003

South Korea Denies Report on Possible US Raid on DPRK

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The South Korean government on Thursday denied a report that the United States has sounded out Seoul on the idea of a surprise bombing raid on a key nuclear complex in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"The government has heard nothing about this idea from any official of the US administration and understands that the US government is not reviewing this option," Seok Tong-youn, a spokesman of the South Korean Trade and Foreign Affairs Ministry, said in a statement.

This denial came after South Korean Internet newspaper Ohmy News reported earlier in the day that a high-level US State Department official in February discussed the subject of a military strike at the DPRK city of Yongbyon with an anonymous South Korean government official.

Seok said Washington and Seoul shared the view that the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through diplomacy.

The nuclear issue erupted last October when senior US officials alleged that the DPRK admitted it had a secret nuclear weapon program.

The United States later suspended its heavy oil shipment to the DPRK, provoking the latter to announce that it would reactivate the frozen nuclear facilities in Yongbyon for electricity production. The DPRK also pulled out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on Jan. 10, 2003.

Questions?Comments? Click here

E. Asia Needs Co-ordination on Nuclear Issue

>> Full Coverage

China's Social Security System Takes Shape ( 2 Messages)

American People-Populace Haunted by Worries of War ( 10 Messages)

International Diplomatic Strife over Iraq Issue: Signed Article ( 33 Messages)

American Empire Steps Up Fourth Expansion: News Analysis ( 34 Messages)

New Type of Nuclear Reactor Put into Use in Beijing ( 39 Messages)