North Korea Security Talks Pulled Off Table

July 2, 2002

WASHINGTON — Citing a naval shooting incident between North and South Korea over the weekend, the Bush administration has pulled its offer to North Korea to resume security talks that have been on hold for two years, an administration official said Tuesday.


An official told Fox News that the administration sent a message through the United Nation's North Korean Mission in New York basically saying, "Don't call us, we'll call you."

The official, asking not to be identified, said that the United States will want a full accounting from North Korea about a deadly clash between North and South Korean naval vessels last Saturday in South Korean waters. Four South Koreans died and 19 were injured. The South Korean military said the North Koreans suffered about 30 casualties, but North Korea would not confirm this.

South Korea has demanded an apology from North Korea for opening fire on its ship. North Korea has denied provoking the incident and has refused to apologize.

The incident occurred two days after the administration had suggested that U.S.-North Korean talks on security issues resume next week, an extension of an offer for closer consultation that began in March.

A senior official said that given the lack of response from North Korea to the U.S. proposal five days after it was submitted, the United States was not in a position to go ahead with the talks.

An official said that the message to North Korea was that "We'll get in touch when we think it's the right time."

The dialogue between the two countries has been in suspension since the final weeks of the Clinton administration. The main issue for the United States concerning North Korea is Pyongyang's missile development and export program.

On Monday, some U.S. officials questioned the propriety of meeting with the North Koreans after one of the most serious incidents between the two Koreas in years. Other officials argued that the talks should go ahead in deference to South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, a strong advocate of efforts to reconcile with the North.

The administration generally has tried to take Kim's wishes into account as it pursues its policies toward Pyongyang.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher acknowledged there was a link between the Saturday incident and the question of proceeding with the talks. He said the United States would consider Pyongyang's response to Thursday's proposal "in light of recent events" — a reference to the Saturday skirmish.

"We're very concerned about this incident, about the armed provocation," Boucher said. "We've also made proposals for further talks. ... Once we hear from them, we'll consider it all together."

Fox News' Jim Angle and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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