NYT/AP: Report: North Korean Leader Regrets Test

[DeepModem Mom]

Report: N. Korean Leader Regrets Test
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 19, 2006

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expressed regret about his country's nuclear test to a Chinese delegation and said Pyongyang would return to international nuclear talks if Washington backs off a campaign to financially isolate the country, a South Korean newspaper reported Friday.

''If the U.S. makes a concession to some degree, we will also make a concession to some degree, whether it be bilateral talks or six-party talks,'' Kim was quoted as telling a Chinese envoy, the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo reported, citing a diplomatic source in China.

Kim told the Chinese delegation that ''he is sorry about the nuclear test,'' the newspaper reported.

The delegation led by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met Kim on Thursday and returned to Beijing later that day -- ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's arrival in the Chinese capital Friday. China is viewed as a key nation in efforts to persuade the North to disarm, as it is the isolated communist nation's main trading partner.

North Korea has long insisted that the U.S. desist from a campaign to sever its ties to the international financial system. Washington accuses Pyongyang of complicity in counterfeiting and money laundering to sell weapons of mass destruction....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-NKorea-Kim-Nuclear.html

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. "oops." n/t

[AlCzervik]

2. Did Rice make a deal with him? We'll give you food if you say sorry?

this smells questionable.

[htuttle]

3. This is more between N Korea and China

Bush has made us fairly irrelevant in this situation.

[Dhalgren]

4. I agree. China took Lil Kim aside and said, "Say your sorry and

that you will make concessions or we will fuck you up." Lil Kim said, "Ok. Sure. You bet. I was only joking. Heh, heh, heh..."

[hogwyld]

5. * has made us Irrelevant worldwide n/t

[BushOut06]

12. Won't stop Bush & the GOP from taking credit

They'll go before the sheeple and proclaim "See, we got Kim Jong Il to say he was sorry."

[54anickel]

21. Yep and the opportunity for China to show off their diplomatic skills

once again, which has become very important to them. I posted an article a while back back when the 6 party talks were stalled. For China, being taken seriously on the world stage as a diplomatic power is extremely important to them. It's another step to them to being considered a major player instead of a developing country. This is good for China, even if the US trys to blow it for them by refusing to give an inch. That would point more to a lack of diplomacy on the part of the US than as a failure of China's diplomatic skills.

[Auntie Bush]

9. No, she had nothing to do with it and she sure better

not try to take credit.

[jwirr]

23. Faux October Surprise.

[madrchsod]

6. china has been doing this for at least 4000 yrs

persia has been doing this for at least 4000yrs


george bush and connie rice have been doing this for..a little over 7?

[matt819]

7. This doesn't ring true

Something about this story doesn't hang together. Let's see how the follow up reporting plays it.

[Phredicles]

8. He regrets that it fizzled, is my guess.

If it had been a successful test, even the Chinese would have had to handle with a certain amount of care. Now they will remind him who the boss is.

[Eugene]

10. Kim is sorry that he made China mad at him.

China is really applying santions, giving Kim something to be sorry for.

Chinese banks stop transfers to N. Korea

By Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | October 20, 2006

BEIJING --Chinese banks have stopped financial transfers to North Korea
under government orders as part of sanctions imposed for Pyongyang's
nuclear test, bank employees said Friday, in a possibly serious blow
to the country's frail economy.

China is North Korea's main trading partner and aid donor, and the
disruption of financial transfers is a forceful expression of Beijing's anger
at the Oct. 9 nuclear test by its isolated ally. It is a break with China's
earlier reluctance to use economic pressure against the North for fear
its ally's government might collapse.

All four major Chinese state-owned banks and British-owned HSBC Corp.
have stopped financial transfers to the North, according to bank employees
in Beijing and the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/10/20/chinese_banks_stop_transfers_to_n_korea

[Heidi]

11. Kick.

:kick:

[oblivious]

13. Kim sorry about N. Korea nuclear test

NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 10:53 a.m. ET Oct. 20, 2006

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expressed regret about his country’s nuclear test to a Chinese delegation and said Pyongyang would return to international nuclear talks if Washington backs off a campaign to financially isolate the country, South Korean media reported Friday.

“If the U.S. makes a concession to some degree, we will also make a concession to some degree, whether it be bilateral talks or six-party talks,” Kim was quoted as telling a Chinese envoy, the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo reported, citing a diplomatic source in China.

Kim told the Chinese delegation that “he is sorry about the nuclear test,” the newspaper reported.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15341349/


Original source of all news reports -- Chosun Ilbo, South Korea

N.Korea ‘Ready to Talk if U.S. Lifts Sanctions’

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200610/200610200001.html


Kim Jong Il regrets test, no more planned: reports

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061020/kim_regret_061020/20061020?hub=World

[underpants]

14. Whoopsie

:shrug:

[YOY]

15. Basically trying to pit China versus the US in this little trick

Unfortunately the US's relationship with China means far more $ than their relationshio with N. Korea.

Nice try Kim...wackjob.

[David__77]

17. China doesn't just care about $.

They MUST support the DPRK. They cannot politically allow its "collapse." US troops on its border are unacceptable and all this would destabilize its own political order.

[YOY]

18. Every nation cares about the bottom line

or at least the bottom line of the leader's personal pockets of the ruling party.

[David__77]

19. China is much more long-term and strategic in its actions.

They are thinking of development through 2050. They don't care if they suffer a short-term setback ecomically if its solidifies their political system - think back to 1989.

[YOY]

20. interesting...good point.

n/t

[Gman]

16. So China motivates N Korea in a way we won't

that is, by talking to them.

[The Count]

22. The ball is in W's court. Will he restore Clinton's policy?

let's see.