THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 22, 1994 TAG: 9410220260
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: GENEVA LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
The United States and North Korea signed a pact Friday intended to end the long-running war of nerves over the communist state's nuclear program.
North Korea pledged to drop the secrecy surrounding its nuclear facilities to clear up suspicions about nuclear bomb-making potential. In return, it got pledges for modern nuclear plants worth billions of dollars and diplomatic respectability after four decades of isolation.
``We believe that this agreed framework is a very important milestone . . . of historic importance,'' North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju said.
Chief U.S. negotiator Robert L. Gallucci gave a more sober assessment of the deal, which in practical terms gives North Korea about five years before it will have to open its nuclear sites to outside inspections.
``We left each other with the thought that we have a long road ahead of us,'' said Gallucci, an assistant secretary of state. But he said the worst-case scenario - that of U.N. sanctions against Korea and possible military confrontation - had been avoided.
South Korea and Japan praised the deal, while noting it remained to be seen whether their neighbors in North Korea would keep their word. The accord commits the North to freezing all current nuclear activities and allowing inspections of its declared nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a United Nations agency.
North Korea also promised to uphold its obligations under the Nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty, which bans the spread of nuclear weapons, and committed itself to dialogue with South Korea to ease tensions on the divided peninsula. MEMO: HIGHLIGHTS: ACTIONS PLEDGED BY N. KOREA
Freeze activity at its existing nuclear reactor and halt construction
of two similar models, which use outdated technology that can produce
plutonium.
Refrain from reprocessing 8,000 used nuclear fuel rods, which have
enough plutonium to make five nuclear bombs, and cooperate in
transferring them to third country for safe storage.
Allow inspections of declared nuclear sites by International Atomic
Energy Agency inspectors and uphold obligations under Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, which bans spread of nuclear weapons.
Allow inspection of two sites suspected of containing nuclear waste,
which would prove whether a bomb has been developed. This is subject to
provision of more modern atomic reactors.
Engage in North-South dialogue to ease tensions on the peninsula.
by CNB