North Korea rejects U.S. demand that it first renounce its nuclear program

[Whoa_Nelly]

North Korea rejected a key U.S. demand Monday that the communist nation first renounce its nuclear programs before winning any security guarantees from Washington, saying it would "rather die" than submit to conditions that amount to "slavery."

<snip>
"The U.S. demand that the DPRK drop 'the nuclear program first' means that the DPRK should lay down arms and work for the U.S. as a servant. The DPRK can never accept it. It would rather die than having peace in exchange for slavery," North Korea said in a commentary carried by the official news agency, KCNA.

<snip>
Washington has repeatedly said it is willing to provide North Korea a written security guarantee, but only after the government in Pyongyang renounces its nuclear ambitions.

North Korea said Monday that both actions must come at the same time in order "to comprehensively and fairly settle the nuclear issue," according to KCNA.

<snip>
Over the weekend, North Korea said it would not allow Japan to participate in the talks if Tokyo insisted on pushing its agenda to include discussions on North Korea's past practice of abducting Japanese citizens to train its communist spies.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/11/30/international0209EST0422.DTL

[David__77]

1. Stupd US demands...

As if a statement by the DPRK means anything EXCEPT as a means to provide the US with political pretext for aggression. Of course, the US will say, we gave a non-aggression guarantee, but N. Korea broke its word so will have no choice but to "protect the American people." Now, whether or not the N. Koreans ACTUALLY will have "broken their 'agreement'" is not important--the same mill that churned out the Iraqi "WMD" lies will simply be activated for new task. Luckily, I think this will have less effect than the last time. You can only "cry wolf" so many times...

[pdove]

2. We should invade North Korea now!

Since we have the capability to fight two and half wars at the same time.

Why wait?

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. "willing to provide North Korea a written security guarantee" - right -

. . ask any "Native" American what the USA's record is in keeping their word.

. . Has not the uSA since day one broken EVERY treaty with the Native Americans ?

. . and another big "Duuuh"

- I'm sure they haven't missed what happened to that wee country Iraq that has not used so much as pepper spray as a weapon.

- sanctions, inspecions, no-fly zones, and Junior ordered mass murder anyways.

NK may not be the nicest contry in the world -

but they ain't "TUPID" !!