Agreement with North Korea Signals Promising Step for Addressing North Korea's Nuclear Weapon Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb 13, 2007
CONTACT:
Travis Sharp, Communications Director, (202) 546-0795 ext.123
tsharp AT armscontrolcenter DOT org
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation welcomed the announcement of an agreement negotiated with North Korea that may lead to a verifiable dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapon program. This promising development is all the more important as lack of diplomatic engagement and progress had plagued negotiations for the last several years.
Lt. General Robert Gard, Jr. (USA. Ret), Senior Military Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, commented "Finally, after six years, in which North Korea produced an estimated ten nuclear-weapons worth of material and tested a nuclear weapon, the Administration is beginning to make use of diplomacy to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement that will address North Korea's nuclear weapon program. It is certainly better late than never, but what were they thinking?"
Leonor Tomero, a Non-Proliferation Policy Analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, stated that "The next sixty days will be very telling and will offer an opportunity to both sides to prove their good faith and commitment to a successful outcome."
While North Korea will shut down its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon within sixty days and readmit inspectors, the United States, South Korea, Japan, China and Russia committed to delivering emergency energy assistance to North Korea by providing 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil.
Tomero continued "These near-term promises, if implemented successfully, will lay an important foundation for verifiably dismantling North Korea nuclear weapon program. Providing short-term, verifiable steps is key to making progress because it affords the opportunity to build the trust and good faith necessary for achieving a lasting and viable agreement."
She added: "Progress is long overdue, as North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons is an undeniable threat to international security and was causing grave concerns about a potential arms race in the region."
Since nuclear negotiations in September 2005, North Korea conducted seven missile tests, and this past October North Korea announced that it had successfully conducted its first nuclear weapon test. It is believed that North Korea has enough plutonium for about ten nuclear weapons. North Korea had also hinted last fall that it might be willing to sell nuclear weapons or material to terrorists or countries hostile to the United States.
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