N. Korea Envoy Says Nuclear Deterrent Ready to Use

Thursday, November 6, 2003

(12:54 PM ET)

By Katherine Baldwin

Reuters

"We are prepared to consider written assurances on non-aggression," Ambassador Ri Yong Ho said, stressing that Pyongyang would only accept such a deal if Washington itself made genuine assurances. He said Washington must commit itself to a peaceful coexistence and show a willingness for "simultaneous action," shorthand for both sides taking steps at the same time to answer conflicting concerns and resolve the crisis.

LONDON -- Reuters
North Korea's envoy in Britain said on Thursday that Pyongyang had a nuclear deterrent that was ready to use and powerful enough to deter any U.S. attack.

Ambassador Ri Yong Ho told Reuters in an interview that North Korea would only use its capability in self-defence. Asked if North Korea had a nuclear bomb, he said: "What we are saying is, a nuclear deterrent capability."

North Korea has long hinted that it had a nuclear bomb. It said last month it was prepared to demonstrate the existence of its nuclear deterrent "when an appropriate time comes."

But Thursday's comments appear to be the first time it has explicitly stated that it has a nuclear weapon ready to use.

The ambassador said the deterrent was made with plutonium, most of which was recently reprocessed, and was now ready to use should the United States attack.

The latest crisis in North Korea-U.S. relations erupted in October 2002 when U.S. officials said Pyongyang was pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme that violated its international commitments.

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2003 © Reuters, Ltd.

North Korea is so oppressed, this is likely the only window available to the regime to enter into the world stage, both politically, and economically.

What an amazingly pathetic world,

Dan