US Envoy in N Korea to Salvage Disarmament Deal
Jason Li
October 01, 2008 N KOREA - The future of the disarmament deal looks hazy, even as US assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill visits the reclusive state to try to reach a compromise.
In Novemeber 2007, North Korea began dismantling their nuclear facilities at Yongnyon after an agreement was made that they would be taken off the US list of terrorist countries.
A milestone in the programme was the demolition of the main cooling tower at Yongbyon.
In June, N Korea handed over paperwork to the US regarding the disarmament programme. However when the US demanded for more verification, they refused.
By 22 Sep 2008, the North ordered the removal of the nuclear seals and IAEA and US experts are now banned from the plutonium-making plant.
On Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported that smoke was seen rising from an underground nuclear test site.
Mr Hill is expected to offer the North more lenient verification requirements for its removal from the US blacklist at the negotiations.
He appeared cautious when speaking to reporters who asked about his trip.
"I would say we are in a difficult and very tough phase of negotiations," he said.
Many believe that this meeting, initiated by N Korea, is America's last chance at saving the disarmament-for-aid deal.
