N.K. resumes reprocessing of fuel rods

Pummeled with criticism about strained inter-Korean ties and the man detained in Gaeseong, Seoul appears to be quickly running out of maneuvers to dealing with Pyongyang.

Adding to Seoul`s woes, Pyongyang now claims to have restarted its controversial nuclear programs, a move that reverses years of negotiations via the six-nation talks.

With the situation seemingly headed nowhere, most experts believe that bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea are the only solution.

"That was what the North sought from the beginning, and it will most likely continue on this path of brinkmanship until its demands are met," said Kim Tae-woo, vice president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.

Seoul and Washington, under presidents Lee Myung-bak and Barack Obama had, from the start of their terms, sought to coordinate their policies to prevent North Korea shunning the South and dealing exclusively with the United States.

Pyongyang last week said it has begun reprocessing fuel rods, indicating that it is steps away from producing weapons-grade plutonium. The announcement was a follow-up to its April 14 statement vowing to restart nuclear programs to defy the U.N. Security Council presidential statement that condemned its April 5 rocket launch.

The United Nations on Friday blacklisted three North Korean firms suspected of being involvement in the trade of missiles and weapons of mass destruction. All U.N. member states that deal with those companies must now freeze their assets in accordance with the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718.

The latest council statement had called for the strict implementation of sanctions devised under that resolution.

But aside from North Korea`s own claims, nothing has been confirmed about its actual nuclear capabilities, critics pointed out.

Pyongyang reported in June last year that it has extracted about 31 kilograms of plutonium, and expects to gain another 7 kilograms once it reprocesses its remaining fuel rods.

Experts said the amount was enough to build a nuclear warhead.

But both pundits and officials were divided over exactly how equipped the North is in producing weapons-grade plutonium, especially since Pyongyang last year disabled its reprocessing facilities after a breakthrough in the six-nation talks.

"It could take weeks or even months just to restart the facilities. Not only that, but we cannot be certain of how accurate the reports North Korea submitted on its plutonium and fuel rods were," said one government official speaking anonymously.

On Saturday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington refuses to be "blackmailed by the North Koreans" during a visit to Baghdad.

She did, however, emphasize that Washington continues to remain open to dialogue with the North to help denuclearize the communist state. The Obama administration has reiterated that Washington hopes to engage Pyongyang in dialogue, but via the framework of the six-nation discussions.

When or if the United States come for bilateral discussions remains uncertain, observers noted - not only due to U.S. policy - but because Obama has his hands full with other diplomatic and military priorities, such as the war in Afghanistan.

"The United States probably wanted some of the nuclear issues to be resolved between the two Koreas through inter-Korean talks, but now even that seems implausible," said Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies here.

Aside from Tuesday`s talks - the first official inter-Korean dialogue in over a year - there has been virtually no communication between the two Koreas.

Tours to Gaeseong City and Mount Geumgang have been suspended, and Gaeseong complex now faces a similar fate as the North makes fresh demands for salary increases and rent from the South Korean government

Government officials yesterday were reportedly considering withdrawing their latest decision to ease up on private visitors seeking to go to the complex should the North seek to try the South Korean man, as it has for the two American journalists last week.

Seoul is seeking more talks by building on Tuesday`s conversations, but there is a wide discrepancy in their priority issues, with the North aiming for more financial profit while Seoul wants to first escort the Hyundai Asan worker back home.

The announcement on South Korea`s full-membership in the Proliferation Security Initiative, in the meantime, remains on hold as inter-Korean relations show no real signs of thawing. Foreign Ministery Yu Myung-hwan, noting the repeated delays, called on the public to "leave the decision up to the government.

Seoul last month said it would seek full-membership in the antiweapons program, but has deferred its announcement on continued threats from Pyongyang.

By Kim Ji-hyun



(jemmie@heraldm.com