The origin of the North Korean nuclear issue

The origin of the North Korean nuclear issue began in the early 1990s. At that time, on the basis of satellite photos, the United States suspected that the DPRK was developing nuclear weapons and threatened to conduct inspections of DPRK's nuclear facilities. However, the DPRK repeatedly announced that it neither intended to produce nuclear weapons nor had the capabilities. The DPRK accused the United States of threatening its national security by deploying nuclear weapons in the ROK. From May, 1992 to February, 1993, the DPRK agreed to accept six inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In October, 1994, the United States and the DPRK signed the "framework agreement" on the North Korea nuclear issue in Geneva. Under the agreement, the DPRK agreed to freeze its existing nuclear program; and in return, the United States consented to build a 2,000-megawatt or two 1,000-megawatt light-water reactors for the DPRK within the following 10-year period of time. Prior to the completion of the light-water reactors, the United States will work with other countries to provide the DPRK with fuel oil as energy compensation. In October, 2002, after the United States presidential envoy James Kelly visited Pyongyang, the United States announced that the DPRK has admitted its uranium enrichment program, so the North Korean nuclear issue once again became the focus of the international community. But the DPRK has never officially admitted the existence of its uranium enrichment program.

In December, 2002, on the grounds that the DPRK had violated the "DPRK-U.S. Nuclear Framework Agreement", the United States stopped the supply of heavy oil to the DPRK. Meanwhile, the DPRK criticized that the United States failed to provide light-water reactors prior to 2003 in accordance with the provisions of the previous agreement; did not really consider improving its relation with the DPRK. In early 2002, the United States claimed that the DPRK as part of the "axis of evil" and would be a target in the possible nuclear strike. Therefore, the DPRK thought that its sovereignty and right to existence was under serious threat.

The Korean Peninsula has been in a state of war technically since the end of the Korea War 50 years ago. North Korea nuclear issue is in fact a continuation of the post-Cold War confrontation. The DPRK accuses that the United States poses the greatest threat to its national security, while the United States insists the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

After the United States stopped the supply of heavy oil to the DPRK, the DPRK announced abandoning its nuclear-freezing plan. The IAEA had to dismantle the installation of monitoring equipment around the nuclear facilities of the DPRK. The DPRK restarted its nuclear facilities for electricity production, and issued a statement announcing its withdrawal from the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" on January 10, 2003 and its no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

To tackle the problem, the DPRK has been eager to participate in direct dialogue with the United States, and on many occasions, proposed to sign a nonaggression treaty with the United States. However, the United States has demanded that the DPRK should abandon its nuclear program in the first place, and insists that the proper way to deal with the North Korean nuclear issue is through multilateral dialogues.

The Brief History of Six-party Talks

The first round six-party talks aimed at resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula was held in Beijing on the August 27th through 29th, 2003. After three days' talk, the six parties reached common grounds: to find a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue; denuclearization of the peninsula simultaneously or in parallel; not to take actions that might make the situation exacerbated; maintaining dialogue; continue the process of six-party talks. This round of six-party talks undoubtedly laid a foundation for a peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

The second round of six-party talks was held in Beijing on the 28th, 2004. The talks are identified with the following characteristics: first, the goal of resolving the nuclear issue; second, the first phase measures to resolve the nuclear issue; third, the issue of continuing the peace process. The parties agreed to continue the talks, conduct the third round of six-party talks no later than the end of June this year and establish the working group.

The third round of six-party talks aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue was held in Beijing on June 26th, 2004. It proposed the plans and ideas for resolving the issue, reached consensus on the first phase of nuclear abandonment, agreed to a step-by-step approach, according to word for word, action for action in the principle of seeking a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue, examined and approved the Concept of the Working Group in principle and the meeting date of the fourth round of six-party talks and issued a chairman's statement.

The fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue concluded, in the form of a joint statement by the six-party talks, the first common document for the eventual establishment of a framework for resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue on September 19th, 2005. The international community and the media in general praised highly of it:: a landmark agreement, the outcome of a win-win situation for all parties at present, the diplomatic victory of China. In the joint statement, North Korea agreed to abandon all nuclear weapons and nuclear programs and return to the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" as soon as possible and accept the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The United States acknowledged that the United States has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has no intention to attack or invade the DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons.

The fifth round of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue was held in Beijing on November 9th, 2005. Although people did not think that this round of talks was very difficult, but diplomatic insiders argued that its kickoff as scheduled itself was a success. Its significance is to lay the foundation for the future "action for action" plan.

The Latest Round of Six-party Talks

On Feb. 13th, 2007, after six days of hard negotiations, in the third stage of the fifth round of six-party talks, the six parties reached an agreement on the initial phase of implementation of the six-party joint statement which would be implemented within the next 60 days. According to the joint document, the ultimate goal is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and the deal will see the DPRK shut down its Yongbyon nuclear complex, seal all its facilities and allow IAEA inspectors back to the site within the 60 days.

In return, the country will receive fifty thousand tons of fuel oil or economic aid of equal value. The DPRK will receive another one million tons of fuel oil, or equivalent aid, when it takes further steps to disable its nuclear capabilities. Those steps include providing a complete inventory of its plutonium.

The US has agreed to remove the DPRK from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. It will also remove trade sanctions against the DPRK.

var para_count=7 The latest round of six-party talks started Thursday, Feb. 8th, 2007. Host China acted as a mediator throughout, shuttling between the US, the DPRK and the ROK at the talks which also include Japan and Russia. China's role has won respect.

Hill said, "We have a lot of respect for what the Chinese have done, trying to put together a draft that everyone can work with."

Chinese state councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with the six envoys on Tuesday. He says it has proven that the six-party mechanism is a pragmatic and effective way of resolving the nuclear issue. He notes that it is a correct and feasible way to resolve international disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultations.

The sixth round of the six-party talks is expected to start on March 19th, 2007. (Source: Xinhuanet )