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Korean N-talks see no result
End financial crackdown, says North Korea to USA.
BY OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
December 22, 2006
Pyongyang is again at the centre of all deliberations. With the latest six-nation talks held in the Chinese capital of Beijing dragged to an end yielding no result on Friday, it is now again back to square one with regard to the nuclear issue.
The North Korean authorites have made it clear that they cannot move until the United States ends a financial crackdown designed to halt its alleged illicit activities and frees up its access to foreign currency.
According to political analysts, the immediate concessions the North Koreans could make include an accounting of its plutonium stockpiles, which would be painful for Pyongyang because it would reveal one of it closely guarded secrets. The options before North Korea now is to shut down its only nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. It could also allow for international inspections of its facilities, knowing it can always kick out the inspectors.
Meanwhile, neighbour South Korea has opted to increase trade with Pyongyang despite UN sanctions which came soon after the missile and nuclear tests. It is also believed that Seoul would resume the huge humanitarian aid with the North Korea. It may be recalled that Seoul had suspended humanitarian aid earlier this year.
Even as North Korea’s stubborn attitude continues, the United Statesmay be forced to save some blushes by releasing some of the $24 million in North Korean accounts frozen at a Macau bank in exchange for a concession.
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