Report: North Korea caves on nuke program? Update: Iran wants to make a deal?
posted at 3:44 pm on January 22, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Verum Serum is all over this. Only one paper’s reporting it, but that paper, Chosun Ilbo, happens to be the biggest in South Korea. Is Bush going to drop a bombshell tomorrow night at the SOTU?
From Tass’s report:
Pyongyang has agreed to suspend all its activities in the nuclear sphere, including its reactor in the Yongbyon research centre and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts to conduct monitoring of its atomic facilities as the first step towards dismantling its nuclear programme. Such agreements were reached at talks in Berlin between the US and North Korean chief negotiators at the six-sided Korean Peninsula denuclearisation talks, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported here on Monday.
During the consultations held in Berlin in recent days, head of the North Korean delegation Kim Gye-gwan told US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher R. Hill that in exchange for this move the North hopes to get from the United States economic and energy assistance, as well as guarantees that Washington will unfreeze North Korea’s accounts in Banco Delta Asia in Aomen (Macau) worth 24 million US dollars.
A “high-level Iranian delegation” was in Pyongyang last Thursday. An eleventh-hour bid to get Kim to reconsider? If the story pans out and there’s a move towards detente with NK, we’d have a sweet carrot to dangle in front of the Iranian people, who aren’t real thrilled with their leadership to begin with these days.
Update: Another respectable newspaper with a dubious report: the Times of London quotes sources close to Khamenei as saying he might agree to western oversight of the country’s nuclear program.
Tehran sources said the impetus for a policy switch was coming from Khamenei, who has ultimate power over Iran’s foreign policy, security and armed forces.
Khamenei is said to believe that Washington’s aim is not only to halt Iran’s nuclear programme but to overthrow the regime.
He also considers the national interest is being undermined by an inexperienced president whose rhetoric is unnecessarily inflammatory.
Under proposals now being debated, an international group made up of the permanent five members of the UN security council, plus Germany or a nuclear power such as India, would oversee and monitor Iran’s nuclear programme.
It’s probably just another stalling tactic — for instance, they announced today that 38 UN inspectors have been barred from the country — but the internal opposition to Ahmadinejad seems to be for real and Khamenei won’t want to get dragged down with him. I think it’s telling that Ayatollah Montazeri, the chief dissident cleric in Iran, was allowed to unload on “Mahdi” last Friday at Qom:
“Some countries don’t have oil and gas. Yet, they run their country and stand on their own,” he said, according to a copy of his words seen by AP.
“We have so much oil and gas but make useless expenditures work for others and don’t think of our own people’s problems and the price of basic commodities goes higher and higher every day.”
He complained that people kept on shouting slogans about nuclear rights, but he asked: “Don’t we have other rights too?”
It was a pointed reference to concerns about diminishing freedom of speech in Iran under Mr Ahmadinejad, says the BBC’s Frances Harrison in Tehran.
Grand Ayatollah Montazeri also launched a scathing attack on the president’s handling of the economy.
He said some claimed inflation was only 13% in Iran, but everyone knew the cost of housing had risen more than 50%.
Shimon Peres is enjoying it. A lot.
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Wow–looks like another late night at Fuddruckers for the WH Speechwriters!
I’m thrilled about this, but I’ll actually believe it when the Nork’s remaining bombs are sitting beside Khaddafi’s in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
see-dubya on January 22, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Lends new meaning to the phrase “trust but verify.” How do we verify?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on January 22, 2007 at 3:48 PM
This is all due to the fact that the Dems took control of Congress. See, all is going back to normal.
Yeah right.
Rick on January 22, 2007 at 3:49 PM
His foreign policy’s senseless–BUSH!
North Korea’s left defenseless—BUSH!
see-dubya on January 22, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Iran is simply crazy. Correction: Ahmadenijad is simply crazy.
Ouabam on January 22, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Here’s hoping that this is true. It would be a feather in Bush’es Hat if true.
Then again is there any guarantee that they won’t break any agreement before as the ink is dry?
Trust, but Verify - R. Reagan.
CrazyFool on January 22, 2007 at 3:51 PM
Caves or has Kimmie bartered the best bribe he think can get and then he’ll just keep right on making nukes and selling them in secret(some more)?
Speakup on January 22, 2007 at 3:53 PM
A pig just flew past my window. Right there…look!…
When Wal-Mart opens on the shores of the Chosen THEN I will believe it.
Limerick on January 22, 2007 at 3:54 PM
All hail Hans Brix!
btw, that’s BOOSH, See-Dubya.
Editor on January 22, 2007 at 3:55 PM
Been hints of thisbefore. Seems that it isnt just North korea giving up nukes. bush is willing to remove sanctions from North korea for dismantling thier program.
Already been talk of freeing up frozen assests of North Korea and relaxing import issues.
Question is does this make it a clintonian type deal were we give and they dont ?
William Amos on January 22, 2007 at 4:00 PM
It’s vital that we have credible observers on the scene (NOT the UN, preferably). For all we know, they could dismantle this stuff and send everything to Iran or Venezuela. Our observers need to witness the disposal (trust but verify).
BTW, how’d they swing this? Did they offer that kook another Michael Jordan basketball or somethin’? Perhaps he was even more desperate for cash than any of us thought.
CyberCipher on January 22, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Well my guess is they aren’t doing this because they have suddenly become un-crazy. Which is not to say it might not be a good deal. Devil is in the details as always.
honora on January 22, 2007 at 4:17 PM
I want to believe this, but it’s pretty hard to trust Kim Jong Il. For now, the skeptic-o-meter remains on.
thirteen28 on January 22, 2007 at 4:24 PM
“Have you even noticed that when the other side calls for a ceasefire it’s because they need to reload?” - Capt. Kirk
- The Cat
MirCat on January 22, 2007 at 4:31 PM
If this is true, and Bush does mention it in the SOTU.. he needs to say something to the effect of “Pyongyang made similar promises to the last administration who took him at face value and didn’t oversee them moving forward with their program right under President Clinton’s nose… that’s not going to happen this time”. Though I doubt he’ll point that out. He’ll probably just talk about “the internets”, people “workin’ hard to put food on their families”, and OBGYNs not being able to practice “their… their love with women all across this country”.
RightWinged on January 22, 2007 at 4:33 PM
I hope the Pres has something like this to drop tomorrow nite. It would be GREAT to see! Where I dont trust that commie pigmy at all, we could MAKE him toe the line. As far as the IAEA, not until that pro-Iranian Iranian is gone should we let them NEAR NK.
labwrs on January 22, 2007 at 4:34 PM
Like others here, I’ll believe it when I see it. As I recall, we thought we had a “breakthrough” moment when ol’ Jimmah Cahtah negotiated a “deal” with the NoKos to stop their nuke program.
We all saw how well that worked out.
Now, admittedly, Jimmah didn’t broker this supposed “deal.” But the guys on the other side of the table are still the same, which leads me to expect the same results.
It’s a safe wager that what the NoKos really want is to unfreeze their overseas account so they can crank up the counterfeit presses again and start pump-pumping their moribund economy with more bogus US curency.
Or, as the good ol’ boys in the south say:
“Don’t listen to what he says; watch his hands.”
Spurius Ligustinus on January 22, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Correction: that’s “pump-priming.” Been a long day in the field.
Spurius Ligustinus on January 22, 2007 at 4:38 PM
How can this be when Boosh has been ignoring the problem?
Pablo on January 22, 2007 at 4:38 PM
The Kimster on the up and up? Not rikery.
fogw on January 22, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Dr Evil is holding the world hostage for 24 MIIIILLLLIION dollars!
How pitiful is that? Their bargaining position has to be pretty weak when concede them back their own 24 million dollars.
jdpaz on January 22, 2007 at 4:42 PM
remember that Reagan revived his presidency with talks with Gorbachev. Bush is doing diplomacy now and can win some battles against our enemies.
William Amos on January 22, 2007 at 4:46 PM
… Oh, I forgot to mention… I question the timing!!!
(First)
RightWinged on January 22, 2007 at 4:53 PM
No…ya think?
(Gets into character). “I don’t know about you Mr. President, but I’m beginning to smell a big commie rat.”
Buck Turgidson on January 22, 2007 at 4:55 PM
All the say Mullahs OK to inspections–BOOSH!
All the neocons gettin’ erections–BOOSH!
see-dubya on January 22, 2007 at 5:03 PM
Kimmie’s nukes is one of those ‘trust not…fail not’ scenarios.
If every rock and kimchi jar is not dug up and verified, North Korea cannot be declared clear of nukes.
Speakup on January 22, 2007 at 5:10 PM
How about we let them them have 24 million rubles and see if they notice.
CP on January 22, 2007 at 5:12 PM
All this conciliatory talk after the “New Thatcher” declares for the Presidency in 2008? Coincidence? I think not.
Thanks, Hilary!
Fred on January 22, 2007 at 5:15 PM
I am feeling a little optimistic and can’t wait for the State of the Union.
infidel on January 22, 2007 at 5:16 PM
From MM’s site, quote from the NYT:
The rest are still in their early
developmental state.No, they promised him a remake into George Clooney’s looks, height and hair, for a day.
Entelechy on January 22, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Someone’s been writing while dreaming.
Color me skeptical.
CliffHanger on January 22, 2007 at 5:37 PM
Bait and switch, just like last time the Dems were in charge.
They will work harder to hide it while increasing research/production, and quit with the overt threats.
They’ll get bunches of new foreign aid from all over the world, channel most of it into further militarization (And Kim’s cognac collection).
Then in a couple of years we will be back at the same situation, except that the NorKs will have more powerful bombs and longer range and a more accurate delivery system.
LegendHasIt on January 22, 2007 at 6:17 PM
See, all we had to do is TALK to them and everything worked out just FINE.
BS.
I don’t trust these guys further than I can throw them. It’s just another trick to buy time until the evil Bush is gone, and then business can go on like normal again.
jaleach on January 22, 2007 at 6:47 PM
Did I read this right? This came about through six-party talks? That damn Bush, going it alone again. When will this unilateralist bastard learn. Always being a swaggering cowboy, ignoring allies and diplomacy, just going it alone. What? Oh yeah, he should talk to N. Korea in direct two-party talks like we did in 94. That was the message from the dems the last two years……
It matters not the supposed deal, either way Kim I’m Il is a loon and liar. And even if he destroyed his entire program before Kofi himself, watching from stadium seating, and then did a Harry Carrey(The Cubs win..)on Al Jazeera terrorism television, the left would still condemn Bush for something and everything……….
Cynical? Nah, just six years worth of experience talking..
ritethinker on January 22, 2007 at 7:05 PM
Translation: “If he wants to wipe Israel off the map, that’s cool, but he doesn’t need to keep talking about it.”
RedWinged Blackbird on January 22, 2007 at 7:14 PM
How about we give them this for aid:
Gather up all of their money that we have (in their notes) and send it back!
With those riches, they should be able to buy a new and better excuse - or at least a Happy Meal for Kim :)
Emmett J. on January 22, 2007 at 7:43 PM
I dont believe a word of this.
Wouldn’t Iran just give them $24 million out of petty cash? Plus a few basketballs and autographed photos.
faraway on January 22, 2007 at 8:06 PM
The left will argue that we are leaving N. Korea without a way to create electricity, thousands will die and it will cripple their economy. Once again, Bush has made a foolish mistake.
right2bright on January 22, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Color me skeptical.
Great news, if true.
We’ll see. BOOOSH!
georgej on January 23, 2007 at 2:20 AM
Leopards don’t change their spots.
Black Adam on January 23, 2007 at 3:04 AM
I’ll believe this when I see it.
Tim Burton on January 23, 2007 at 4:24 PM