North Korea invites US to inspect main nuclear plant

[Whoa_Nelly]

By Rupert Cornwel in Washington
03 January 2004


North Korea has invited a group of US experts to inspect its main nuclear complex at Yongbyon next week in what may be an attempt to convince Washington that it possesses nuclear weapons.

The motives for the surprise move by the secretive Communist regime are hard to divine. But speculation is that Pyongyang is trying to strengthen its negotiating hand before talks with its neighbours and the US aimed at freezing North Korea's nuclear programme.

The invitation might be intended to show that the North's claims of a nuclear capability are genuine, while signalling Pyongyang's readiness to permit regular inspections if a deal is reached to dismantle weapons in exchange for economic aid and some form of non-aggression pact with Washington.

According to South Korean officials yesterday, the US team would include Sig Hecker, a former director of the Los Alamos nuclear research centre, where the first atom bomb was produced. Two Senate aides who have previously visited North Korea and a former State Department negotiator with the North have also been invited.

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=477643