You are here
As was widely expected, North Korea missed the end of the year deadline to declare all its nuclear activities. However, the US response to the development seems to be quite restrained, with White House spokesperson, Scott Stanzel, noting that Pyongyang had made significant progress in disabling the Yongbyong nuclear complex. He however mentioned that the US was partly responsible for the recent slowdown in the disablement process, over concerns for safety and security1.
This week also saw another controversy brewing over the recent claim by the North Koreans that they had provided the US with a report on its nuclear declaration in November 20072. With the US having rejected Pyongyang’s claim, some experts believe that North Korea was dragging its feet on the declaration as too much clarity over its nuclear programme would reduce its negotiating leverage3.
- 1. Blaine Harden, “N. Korea Misses Deadline, but U.S. Response Is Restrained,” Washington Post, January 1, 2008 at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/31/AR200712...
- 2. “DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Issue of Implementation of October 3 Agreement,” KCNA, January 4, 2008, at http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200801/news01/05.htm#1
- 3. “US Rejects North Korea's Claims on List,” The New York Times, January 5, 2008, at http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-US-NKorea-Nuclear.html?pagewanted=...