U.S. funds to keep N.Korea energy consortium alive

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15178330.htm

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Monday it would provide funding to keep running an international consortium set up to build light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea, but urged the group to suspend the venture.

U.S. President George W. Bush said it was "vital to the national security interests of the United States" to provide up to $3.72 million to the New York-based Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, or KEDO.

Bush said the money would be used for "administrative expenses only."

"No part of the FY 2003 U.S. contribution will be used for construction of light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said in a statement. snip

But the White House has also said energy assistance could resume under the right conditions.

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[madrchsod]

1. another usa arm twisting

of the other nations in the kedo group..when the world starts it`s war with the usa,we`re all fucked

[salin]

2. why are we on the one hand assisting wth NUCLEAR energy

when, I believe, the by products are so easily used for nuclear weapons production, for a country who is now on the edge of a nuclear crisis? Oh ya, as rummy's business with ABB demonstrates, corporate interests - with this admin and its players - always tops national security interests.

[nextbillgates]

3. By-products of light water reactors are not weapons grade

The US offered to build N. Korea light-water nuclear reactors in exchange for mothballing the graphite nuclear reactors (which do produce weapons grade plutonium) they currently had.