North Korea warns of ‘unspeakable disaster’ over nuclear row
The threat, made during inter-Korean economic talks in Pyongyang, was North Korea’s first reaction to last week’s meeting between Mr Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in Washington.
Mr Bush and Mr Roh said last week they would “not tolerate” atomic weapons in North Korea.
They said they would seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear stand-off but would consider “further steps” if Pyongyang escalates tensions.
A senior Bush administration official has said “further steps” could mean military action as well as “a lot of things in the toolbox”. North Korea’s chief negotiator Pak Chang Ryon criticised yesterday’s summit, calling it “perfidious” and “an improper act of actively following (Washington’s) policy to stifle the DPRK militarily and economically”. DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name.
“The South side will sustain an unspeakable disaster if it turns to confrontation,” he said.
Mr Pak made his comments at the beginning of the economic talks to discuss inter-Korean projects, including cross-border railways and roads as well as an industrial complex that would be built near the border in North Korea.
But South Korean delegates said the projects could be hurt if Pyongyang creates further tension over its suspected nuclear weapons programs.
“It is our precondition that North Korea’s nuclear issue should not deteriorate for smooth inter-Korean economic co-operation,” said South Korea’s Vice Finance and Economy Minister Kim Gwang-lim, the chief South Korean delegate.
Mr Kim also said he “strongly protested the North’s threatening remark and demanded an acceptable response from the North”.
He said South Korea also needs to confirm the rice aid it provides is distributed to the North Korean people before discussing further food aid to the poverty-stricken state.
