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U.S. Bends to North Korea's Nuclear Blackmail NewsMax.com WiresSEOUL, South Korea – A U.S. envoy said Monday that Washington would address North Korea's energy shortages if the regime resolves concerns over its nuclear weapons program. Assistant U.S. Secretary of State James Kelly also said the Bush administration was prepared to talk with North Korea on a wide range of issues. U.S. officials have previously said they would not reward bad behavior by negotiating with North Korea on aid and better ties before it agrees to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Empowering the Enemy "Once we get beyond nuclear weapons, there may be opportunities with the United States, with private investors, with other countries to help North Korea in the energy area," Kelly told a news conference in Seoul after talks with South Korea's President-elect Roh Moo-hyun. South Korean officials said Kelly's hint of energy aid was unlikely a concession to Pyongyang, but a restatement of U.S. offers of humanitarian help for starving North Koreans once the nuclear issue was resolved. "Possible energy aid would raise the possibility that the United States would strike a deal with North Korea to resolve the nuclear standoff," a senior official at the Foreign Ministry told United Press International. North Korea has suffered a chronic energy shortage, which has worsened since U.S.-led allies stopped fuel oil shipments in December to punish North Korea for secretly seeking nuclear weapons. North Korea, ungrateful that the U.S. feeds its people while the regime squanders its resources on its massive military, has accused the United States of using humanitarian aid as a weapon. Clinton's Folly Under an unverifiable 1994 deal, the Clinton administration agreed to give North Korea light-water reactors and an annual shipment of 500,000 tons of heavy oil as alternative energy sources. In return, North Korea pledged to freeze operations at its nuclear facilities. The agreement is on verge of nullification as North Korea recently renewed its nuclear ambitions. Pyongyang withdrew from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty last week and has threatened to resume long-range missile tests. North Korea has indicated it might rethink the decision to withdraw from the proliferation pact if the United States resumes oil shipments to the North. It claims its nuclear activity was aimed purely at producing electricity. Double Standard for Iraq and North Korea Kelly, who is visiting Seoul as President Bush's special envoy on North Korea, stressed the U.S. policy of ruling out a military strike. He said Washington was willing to talk to North Korea "about their response to the international community" on the nuclear issue. "We are, of course, willing to talk to North Korea about their response to the international community, particularly with respect to elimination of nuclear weapons and we are going to be talking here with government people over how are some of the best ways to do that," he said Roh, who takes office Feb. 25, explained to Kelly that his incoming government would not accept a nuclear North Korea and wanted to play a leading role in crafting a peaceful solution to the crisis. South Korea Also Ungrateful to Nation That Guards It Kelly's visit came amid growing anti-U.S. sentiment in South Korea. That trend has triggered concerns that decades-long security alliance between Seoul and Washington might be undermined. In an effort to repair the damaged security ties, Roh, who once called for the withdrawal of 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, vowed to keep close security ties with Washington. "Seoul-Washington alliance has been, is and will be important," Roh told Kelly. Roh said the U.S. military presence on the Korean peninsula was still required. He expressed hope that the United States would remain an ally. Kelly is scheduled to leave Tuesday for China. He is also to visit Singapore, Indonesia and Japan. But the U.S. envoy was greeted by North Korea's warning of massive retaliation on the U.S. challenge. 'Make Them Pay' "If the United States evades its responsibility and recklessly challenges the DPRK [North Korea], the army and people of the DPRK will never miss the chance but certainly make them pay for the blood and turn the stronghold of the enemy into a sea of fire," said Pyongyang's state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmum. "No formidable enemy can be safe before the arms of the DPRK," it said. Pyongyang's media also urged South Korea to join the North's efforts to rid the peninsula of the U.S. military presence, part of a drive to exploit differences between South Korea and the United States. Copyright 2003 by United Press International. All rights reserved.
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