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Do we attack North Korea now?
Sources: North Korea admits having nuclear weapons
Thursday, April 24, 2003 Posted: 2:32 PM EDT (1832 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- North Korea has admitted having nuclear weapons, sources close to the U.S. talks with North Korea and China told CNN on Thursday.
The country said it would "prove" it has the weapons soon, one source said.
In the past, North Korean officials have privately told U.S. officials that they have a nuclear weapons program, but they did not declare having any nuclear weapons.
A source said Gen. Li Gun, North Korea's representative to the talks in Beijing, China, told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly "blatantly and boldly" that the country has nuclear weapons and then asked, "Now what are you going to do about it?"
Li said Pyongyang would consider dismantling its nuclear weapons program if the United States provides written assurances that it would not attack North Korea, according to a source. However, Li said it was not possible to dismantle a nuclear bomb, the source said.
In the past, North Korean officials have privately told U.S. officials that they have a nuclear weapons program, but they did not declare having any weapons.
U.S. officials have accused North Korea of trying to blackmail the United States into making concessions.
White House officials said Thursday they would look into the latest statements from Pyongyang, noting that translations have led to misunderstandings at times.
Earlier Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Beijing talks were "coming to a close" and all sides presented strong views over nuclear concerns. It's uncertain whether the talks will continue Friday.
"The sides will return to their capitals and assess what they heard, analyze proposals that were put down by the parties and determine where they will go next," Powell told the Asia-Pacific Council.
"The one thing that is absolutely clear as a result of this meeting once again is that there is unity within the community that we must not allow the [Korean] Peninsula to become nuclear."
He noted this position is supported by "the Chinese government, and of course of the United States, Japan, South Korea and of Russia, Australia and others in the region. North Korea must come to understand this."
In a statement carried Thursday on the North Korean state news agency, Pyongyang said the U.S.-led war in Iraq has shown the only way for a country to protect itself is to have a powerful deterrent.
It said the "master key" to progress was for Washington to make a "bold switchover" in its policy toward North Korea.
The statement, which referred to the Beijing talks, appeared to be a hardening of Pyongyang's long-standing position seeking some kind of security guarantee from the United States before it will talk about dismantling its nuclear program.
"In actuality, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is so tense that a war may break out any moment due to the U.S. moves," the statement said.
The United States has said it has no plans to invade North Korea or to resort to any kind of military action.
Nonetheless, officials said their message to North Korea is that it must immediately end production of nuclear weapons and establish an intrusive inspections regime.
The Beijing talks were the first official meetings between the United States and North Korea since October. At that time, Washington said North Korean officials admitted to them that they were pursuing an active nuclear weapons program.
North Korea denies any such admission took place and said the United States is using its accusation as an excuse to justify military action. Kelly was the same U.S. official who confronted Pyongyang about its nuclear program in the fall.
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R.I.P Tim Minnick
The KING of Cards
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