N.K. remains dead-set against nuke verification

North Korea has reiterated its adamant rejection of the United States` call for an "international level" of verification of its nuclear programs.

Chief nuclear negotiators of the United States, South Korea, China and Japan gathered to discuss the quagmire in Beijing last week. Hopes that North Korea`s Kim Kye-gwan would join them were quickly dashed as the Pyongyang delegation did not attend.

Instead, Chosun Shinbo, the pro-North Korean newspaper published in Japan, ran an article on Saturday denouncing Washington`s demand for verification.

"The (North Korean) government will not be making any idle decision that would go against the voice of the people regarding the verification problem," the papers said.

North Korea`s military is considered to be the driving force behind Pyongyang`s recent noncompliance.

The regime is gearing up for a grand patriotic spectacle in celebration of its 60th anniversary this Tuesday.

"The people of (the North) feel dignity and pride about the grandness of this nation which pledges no negotiating with the United States on its nuclear deterrence, and confirms that the United States` verification demand is an infringement of our sovereign rights," the newspaper said.

The American network FOX News` internet edition reported that the North had safety seals taken off its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon, and then put them back on after workers took pipes and valves into prohibited areas.

Quoting unidentified U.S. officials, FOX also said that the International Atomic Energy Agency officials at the site were not obstacles to the North`s reassembling of its nuclear facilities.

South Korean officials were unable to confirm the report.

"If the news reports are true, it would mean that (the North`s) move to restore its nuclear facilities has become more certain," a Seoul official said on condition of anonymity.

Taking aim at Washington for its decision to not yet remove Pyongyang from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, the North Korean Foreign Ministry released a statement on Aug. 26 announcing its suspension of the disablement work. It also threatened to consider resurrecting the disabled facilities. On Sept. 2, the North reportedly informed U.S. officials at the Yongbyon site that the decision was made to go ahead with the restoration work.

To discuss this development, Kim Sook of South Korea, Wu Dawei of China, Christopher Hill of the United States and Akitaka Saiki of Japan met in the Chinese capital over the weekend.

Six-party talks members have been stressing the need for China to more actively mediate between Pyongyang and Washington.

China has often dispatched a special envoy to Pyongyang in times of deadlock.

"It is possible for the members to discuss a message that could be sent through a special envoy," a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. side offered its version of the verification protocol in July. Washington wants to be able to take samples from all sites so as to verify any nuclear activity.

Pyongyang insists that such a method infringes on its sovereignty. The regime has not provided any verification alternative, according to sources.

North Korea, which had been carrying out the disablement work last year, bolted from the process when the United States decided on Aug. 11 to defer its removal of the North from its terrorism-sponsors list.

Washington argues that a verification mechanism is part of the precondition, while Pyongyang says that submitting its declaration is sufficient.

North Korea has been intent on getting off that list as a precondition of normalizing relations with Washington.

Neither the Feb. 13 nor the Oct. 3 agreements of last year specified that the denuclearization steps require a "verification mechanism." Taking North Korea off the list has been considered one of Washington`s last-remaining forms of leverage over the Kim Jong-Il government.

"(The North) wants to improve relations with the United States, but that cannot be the highest purpose of a nation," the Chosun Shinbo said.

"The reason that (the North) had no other choice but to mention measures which would step back from the implementation of the agreement among the six parties is that the United States made a demand that could demolish the six-party process," the newspaper added.

By Lee Joo-hee

(angiely@heraldm.com)