N. Korea, US Differ Over Nuclear Sampling
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The United States and North Korea differed over whether samples should be collected from the communist state's nuclear facilities to verify nuclear disarmament.
North Korea refused Wednesday to allow inspectors to take fissile materials in its territory, claiming it had never agreed on the sampling.
But the United States said that North Korea agreed on sampling, reiterating details of verification measures released last month.
``If you remember the understanding, understandings on verification that were issued last month… it was basically agreed that experts could take samples and remove them from the country for testing,'' U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.
But he did not comment about whether North Korea is allowing the United States to collect samples or not, according to the AFP.
``I'm responding to some of these press reports, and I just wanted to make it very clear where things are with regard to the sampling issue,'' Wood said.
The United States announced on Oct. 11 that it got ``every single thing'' wanted from North Korea to verify its nuclear disarmament, in return for taking Pyongyang off its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
It added that the accord allows outside experts to visit nuclear sites in North Korea and take and remove samples and equipment, which would enable the United State to analyze nuclear activities.
The deal revived speculation that the six-party denuclearization talks would soon be resumed.
North Korea's sudden refusal to allow sample-taking was construed as a tactic to talk with the Obama administration rather than the incumbent Bush administration, according to an expert.
``They have high hopes that the Obama administration will be more generous in terms of getting energy assistance and political recognition,'' Gary Samore, vice president of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, said at a seminar in Washington. ``North Korea's strategy is to delay… in the expectation that they can get a better deal from the Obama administration.''
North Korea's foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement Wednesday that removing samples was not included in the October agreement with Washington.
The refusal came soon after the North's military announced that it will strictly restrict or shut all overland crossings through inter-Korean border starting Dec. 1.
Inter-Korean relations turned sour after President Lee Myung-bak took office in February with a vow to take a tougher stance toward the communist North.
The North has refused to hold inter-Korean dialogue, demanding that the South implement inter-Korean accords former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 and 2007, respectively.