North Korea may be dropped from terrorism list, U.S. hints - Next stop, Most Favored Nation status

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401546.html


By Arshad Mohammed and Sue Pleming
Reuters
Monday, September 24, 2007; 8:43 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted on Monday that North Korea could be dropped from a U.S. terrorism blacklist before fully accounting for the Japanese citizens it abducted in the 1970s and 1980s.

Such a move could antagonize Japan, a key U.S. ally for whom the fate of the abductees -- who were kidnapped by North Korean agents and kept in the impoverished, Stalinist state for decades -- is a politically sensitive issue.

North Korea's presence on the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list -- which imposes a range of U.S. sanctions -- has become a bargaining chip in multilateral negotiations on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs.

The top U.S. negotiator with North Korea suggested recently that Pyongyang could come off the list before it abandons all nuclear programs as called for under a 2005 agreement among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

[madeline_con]

1. So, everything Wally World sells will be made in N. Korea? n/t

[orpupilofnature57]

3. 400% profit is the only Detente necessary ,Just a year ago the 'Evil Empire'

[Deja Q]

2. So it's no longer an axis of evil but duopoly of evil? Teeter totter of evil?

:shrug:

Why piss off Japan?

More importantly, what if N Korea backtracks on any promises they make for this little venture taking place?

And if there was a 2005 agreement involving Japan helping to lead to this moment, why be against this move now?

Still, times can and do change.

[NNN0LHI]

4. I don't think the "deal" requires NKorea to give up any of the nukes it currently possesses

The just have agreed to not make any more or sell any of the ones they have.

I can't imagine why NKorea would need to backtrack on any promises they have made. They have exactly what they have been coveting for decades. A credible nuclear deterrent.

They can now begin dismantling their very expensive million man army which has now become obsolete because no one will be attacking a nuclear armed NKorea.

Don

[madeline_con]

5. Duh-bya will say "Duo" 'cuz it's easy to pronounce. n/t

[Strelnikov_]

6. So the Wal-Mart of nuclear proliferation is not considered a terrorist state

They must not have any oil. No need to waste any more time on them.

Also those sanctions do slow down their sale of nuclear materials to states that are sitting on our oil . . . oops . . . those states with a dark ideology seeking nuclear weapons that we must stop at any cost.

[Canuckistanian]

7. And only a few weeks after the Syrian bombing???

I thought Syria was bombed because it was IMPORTING nukes from N. Korea.

Am I missing something???