Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 6, 1994 TAG: 9401060159
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
North Korea's agreement to let inspectors back into seven nuclear sites prevents a total collapse of the inspection process and ends, for now, an escalating crisis that could have led the United States to seek U.N. sanctions against the isolated Communist regime.
The deal may only delay an eventual showdown over the ultimate U.S. goal, getting North Korea to surrender whatever nuclear-weapon material - or bombs - it may have developed.
President Clinton declared last year that North Korea would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but the CIA was reported recently to have concluded there is an even chance the regime already has at least one.
The agreement came as the International Atomic Energy Agency, which will conduct the inspections, said its measure of North Korea's nuclear capacities is already "damaged" by the lag between visits, and more than one inspection would be required to restore lost knowledge.
The deal would fulfill the minimum U.S. aim of resuming inspections at North Korea's seven declared nuclear facilities and getting talks started again between North and South Korea that could lead to a separate set of inspections.
"What we've gotten from the North is a commitment to the inspections of the seven sites necessary for the IAEA to say that the continuity of safeguards has been maintained," Lynn Davis, undersecretary of state for international security affairs, told reporters.
The crisis developed last September when North Korea abruptly barred continued monitoring of its nuclear facilities.
Throughout the crisis, the Clinton administration has continued the Bush administration's policy of using incentives - the promise of greater contacts, trade and perhaps even aid - to get North Korea to cooperate. But some question whether that tactic has ever gotten the United States what it wants.
"It didn't work for us, and it isn't working now," said Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser under former President Bush.
As part of the package, the United States is expected to reward North Korea with some of the items the isolated Communist nation has been seeking. These would include a new set of high level talks and a suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea. The North Koreans viewed these exercises as war rehearsals.
by CNB