South Korea Sides With North Over Nuclear Issue

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South Korea Sides With North Over Nuclear Issue

South Korea's Unification Minister says that it is North Korea's right to have a nuclear program, and that, "This is different from the United States' position.'" The day before, President Bush said that the North should 'not be permitted any nuclear program.' Washington denies any difference in view.

August 12, 2005

Original Article (English)

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's statement Wednesday that there are differences between Seoul and Washington over North Korea’s right to a peaceful nuclear program was no gaffe, pundits say, but a well informed comment by one familiar with diplomatic considerations.

Chung Dong-Young [Right] With Kwon Ho-Ung, Who Leads the North's Delegation

Chung, after all, mentioned differences between South Korea and the U.S. twice during the interview. His statement came just one day after U.S. President George W. Bush said he would never permit North Korea a civilian nuclear program.

It is unlikely that the head of a diplomatic and security ministry [Chung is also a member of the South Korean Security Council], who understands full well the importance of cooperation between allies, would allow himself such a slip of the tongue.

The question of whether the North would be permitted to possess a peaceful nuclear program was the main stumbling block during the 13 day six-party talks in Beijing, now in recess. It was the failure to achieve a consensus on this point that forced the three-week adjournment.

Many therefore read Chung's statement as a form of media-diplomacy to persuade Washington to yield on the issue.

A [South Korean] government official says that a small number of Washington officials agree - if the Stalinist country returns to the Non Proliferation Treaty and welcomes IAEA inspections - the U.S. will have no choice but to permit the North to use nuclear technology peacefully. “There's sufficient room for compromise," the official said.

Chung himself told an interviewer on Friday, "The right to use nuclear energy peacefully, something North Korea claims it must have, is an issue over which agreement is possible - through discussion and dialogue."

Others believe Chung was sending an encouraging message to Pyongyang: return to the talks after the recess, and South Korea will try and convince the U.S. on this point.