Pyongyang sought N-reactor during Hill's visit

Pyongyang sought N-reactor during Hill's visit

Takashi Sakamoto Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

North Korea demanded a light water reactor in return for scrapping its nuclear weapons program during a visit by top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill to Pyongyang last month, sources close to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program said Tuesday.
In light of the United States' reluctance to allow North Korea the means for nuclear development in any form, such demands will certainly complicate matters at the talks set to resume soon in Beijing.
A light water reactor is a nuclear reactor for generating electricity from which it is hard to extract weapons-grade plutonium--a raw material for nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang made the demand to Hill, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on June 21 without stating specific conditions, the sources said.
Washington has said it would only consider supplying such a reactor if Pyongyang totally abandons its nuclear weapons program and diplomatic relations are normalized.
North Korea insists on continuing its nuclear energy program using a light water reactor even after it abandons its weapons program.
A six-party joint statement made in September 2005 said the supply to North Korea of a light water reactor would be considered at an "appropriate time."
(Jul. 12, 2007)