DPRK nuclear power project suspended

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 23, 2003

DPRK nuclear power project suspended

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A US-led consortium has decided to suspend the building of two nuclear power plants in the DPRK for one year. The light water reactor project is part of an agreement between Washington and Pyongyang. The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, or KEDO, blamed the halt on the DPRK, saying it has failed to meet the necessary conditions.

The decision was made at a KEDO executive board meeting early this month, but was only announced on Friday.

A spokesman said the decision was made because Pyongyang was not respecting the terms of the agreement.

Roland Tricot, KEDO Spokesman, said, "The executive board of KEDO, given that the conditions necessary for continuing the light water reactor project have not been met by the DPRK, has decided to suspend the light water reactor project in the DPRK for a period of one year, beginning December 1, 2003."

The announcement officially halted a 1994 agreement between the US and the DPRK in which Pyongyang agreed to freeze its nuclear weapons programs in return for two light-water power reactors.

But the deal has already been paralyzed for at least a year now, as Washington accused Pyongyang of working on a secret nuclear weapons program.

Ruan Zongze, Vice-President of China Institute of International Studies, said, "For the first light water reactor, it should be completed by the end of this year. But so far, only one third of it has been completed. So I think, to halt or not, the US or the KEDO cannot fulfill its agreement to complete this project."

A US official said his government had wanted the whole project abandoned, but was still satisfied with KEDO's decision.

Chinese analysts say the move was also to put pressure on Pyongyang ahead of a new round of diplomatic efforts following last October's six-party talks on the Korean nuclear crisis.

Ruan also said, "Before the six party talks, everybody is working very hard on that, particularly the US. I think we can understand it is sort of game playing before the six party talks. And certainly this game will be carried on during the talks."

KEDO's statement says the organization will decide on the project's future by the end of the suspension period. In the intervening time, it will continue a dialogue with Pyongyang.

Pyongyang has not reacted to the statement. But two weeks ago it said that if the project was suspended it would take tough action, such as seizing the project's equipment and technical data.

As to exactly what impact this latest development will have, only time will tell.

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