P. Littbarski
Well-Known Member
Last Updated: 07:43 UK, Thursday May 15, 2003
The US and South Korean Presidents have vowed to work with international allies to achieve the "verifiable and irreversible elimination" of communist North Korea's nuclear weapons.
A joint statement issued after summit talks said: "President Roh and President Bush reaffirmed that they will not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea."
The statement added: "They noted with serious concern North Korea's statements about reprocessing, possession of nuclear weapons, and its threat to demonstrate or transfer those weapons."
Meeting for the first time, Mr Roh and Mr Bush said they were confident the seven-month-old crisis could be solved peacefully, but added that "increased threats to peace and stability on the peninsula would require consideration of further steps".
The four-page statement in English did not specify what steps might be considered.
Washington has insisted that the military option remain on the table and called for moves to squeeze North Korea economically - policies Seoul has resisted so far.
"They stressed that escalatory moves by North Korea will only lead to its greater isolation and a more desperate situation in the North," it added.
In addition to China, which hosted talks last month at which North Korean told the United States it had nuclear arms, the two leaders said they wanted Japan and Russia to help end the crisis.
from sky news : http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12318011,00.html
The US and South Korean Presidents have vowed to work with international allies to achieve the "verifiable and irreversible elimination" of communist North Korea's nuclear weapons.
A joint statement issued after summit talks said: "President Roh and President Bush reaffirmed that they will not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea."
The statement added: "They noted with serious concern North Korea's statements about reprocessing, possession of nuclear weapons, and its threat to demonstrate or transfer those weapons."
Meeting for the first time, Mr Roh and Mr Bush said they were confident the seven-month-old crisis could be solved peacefully, but added that "increased threats to peace and stability on the peninsula would require consideration of further steps".
The four-page statement in English did not specify what steps might be considered.
Washington has insisted that the military option remain on the table and called for moves to squeeze North Korea economically - policies Seoul has resisted so far.
"They stressed that escalatory moves by North Korea will only lead to its greater isolation and a more desperate situation in the North," it added.
In addition to China, which hosted talks last month at which North Korean told the United States it had nuclear arms, the two leaders said they wanted Japan and Russia to help end the crisis.
from sky news : http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12318011,00.html
