US Rules out Concessions to DPRK on Weapons Issues

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 30, 2003

US Rules out Concessions to DPRK on Weapons Issues

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The White House said Tuesday that the United States will not make concessions to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in exchange for the latter's commitment to scraping its alleged nuclear and missile programs.

"We will not reward North Korea (DPRK) for bad behavior. What we seek is North Korea's irrevocable and verifiable dismantlement of its nuclear weapons program. We will not provide them with inducements for doing what they always said they were going to do anyway," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

Fleischer's remarks marked the first official US response to a plan put forward by the DPRK in the three-way talks held in Beijing, China, on April 23-25. Delegates from China, the United States and the DPRK took part in the talks.

Fleischer said Pyongyang violated the terms of the framework agreement signed by the United States and the DPRK in 1994 by developing nuclear weapons.

The spokesman said that the Beijing talks proved that the diplomatic approach pursued by President George W. Bush was right but he stressed that the process could be time-consuming.

"This is the diplomatic process, and the diplomatic process is a lengthy one. The president is prepared to pursue it at that length. And so if it takes time, it will take time," Fleischer said.

"But what will not happen is North Korea will not be rewarded for developing nuclear weapons," he added.

Shortly after the Beijing talks ended on April 25, the DPRK Foreign Ministry said that DPRK delegates had proposed a plan to address the "concerns" of both itself and the United States.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell confirmed Monday that the DPRK did put forward such a plan. He said Pyongyang is prepared toscrap its nuclear and missile programs in exchange for something "considerable" in return.

Powell and State Department spokesman Richard Boucher both said that the United States will study the proposal and consult with allies before deciding what to do next.

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