May 27, 2005
By PAUL ALEXANDER
News My Way
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea dismissed reports it is preparing for a nuclear test as a U.S. "fabrication," raising hopes that the reclusive communist nation may be ready to return to the nuclear bargaining table.
Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, sixth from left, poses with senior officials for a souvenir photo on Thursday May 26, 2005 when he visited the construction site of a power plant at Wonsan, on North Korea's eastern coast. Kim gave field guidance to the construction site of the Wonsan Youth Power Station, Pyongyan's news agency KCNA said. No identifications other than Kim were given. (AP Photo / Korea News Service)
With the statement late Thursday on Korean Central Television Station, the North's only nationwide network, Pyongyang appeared to be inching back from the stalemate over its nuclear program that has taken on increasingly ominous tones.
The North, which pulled out of six-nation negotiations after the third round in June, still kept up its anti-American rhetoric. But pragmatism could be prevailing with the North now struggling to ward off a famine.
U.S. officials said earlier this month that North Korea appeared to be digging tunnels and building a reviewing stand in the northeast and said these could be preparations for a nuclear test. North Korea criticized the report, based on satellite imagery, but had not denied such preparations were under way until Thursday.
"The U.S. leadership has recently ... come out with a fabrication that there are some kind of missile tests and signs of an underground nuclear test," KCTS said.
The North has repeated claims that Washington is preparing to unseat North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and refused to rule out a pre-emptive attack of its own.
"Our army and people do not want a war our relations (with the United States) to worsen, but we also would not beg for dialogue and peace under any circumstances," KCTS said.
There has been a recent flurry of activity aimed at persuading Pyongyang to return to negotiations involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.
Two weeks ago, U.S. State Department officials went to North Korea's office at the United Nations, reportedly to reiterate assurances that Washington recognizes North Korea's sovereignty and has no plans to attack, and to urge resumption of the six-party talks.
The two Koreas also held their first face-to-face talks in 10 months last week, with Seoul repeatedly bringing up the nuclear issue. Working-level talks were held Friday on the makeup of a South Korean delegation that is to go to Pyongyang next month for the fifth anniversary of a historic summit accord.
North Korea claimed in February to have nuclear weapons, and international experts believe it has enough plutonium to build about six bombs. It said earlier this month that it had removed 8,000 fuel rods from a reactor, a move that could allow it to harvest more weapons-grade plutonium.
It's not unusual for the North to raise tensions before entering into negotiations in hopes of extracting aid and other concessions from the West. The World Food Program on Friday appealed for more food for North Korea, warning of a worsening food crisis.
The North has depended on outside aid to help feed its 24 million people since the 1990s, when more than 1 million are estimated to have died from famine.
A top State Department official predicted Thursday that North Korea's decision to remain isolated internationally will eventually lead to the collapse of its government. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said North Korea is showing no interest in taking lessons from the successes neighboring China has enjoyed from its reform program.
"It's a real problem," Hill said, alluding to North Korea's self-imposed isolation. "And it's a problem that will ultimately be their undoing."
Hill expressed frustration with North Korea's seeming focus on "small issues," such as the occasional pejorative comments in Washington, when it should give top priority to resolving the "monumental" issue of nuclear weapons development.
"We're talking about an issue that would profoundly affect the future of North Korea," he said.
"Are they serious?" he asked. "I can't answer that right now."
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