DPRK ‘Manufactured’ Nuclear Weapons, To ‘Suspend’ 6-Way Talks for ‘Indefinite Period’

NAPSNet Special Report

Recommended Citation

"DPRK ‘Manufactured’ Nuclear Weapons, To ‘Suspend’ 6-Way Talks for ‘Indefinite Period’", NAPSNet Special Reports, February 14, 2005, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/dprk-manufactured-nuclear-weapons-to-suspend-6-way-talks-for-indefinite-period/

DPRK ‘Manufactured’ Nuclear Weapons, To ‘Suspend’ 6-Way Talks for ‘Indefinite Period’

Special Report: February 14th, 2005

Korean Central Broadcasting Station Statement

The following statement was broadcast over radio and television in the DPRK on February 10, 2005. We are distributing this text to NAPSNet readers in addition to the text of the KCNA statement of the same date [see: https://nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/2005/feb/ndr10feb05.html] because a careful reading will show that this text is more strongly stated in some respects than the KCNA version. Pitched at a domestic audience, this statement suggests a higher degree of committal to non-participation in future six party talks and may not be rhetorical bluster or a tactical maneuver, as some (including US Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice) have suggested.

It also suggests that the DPRK leadership is now highly committed to nuclear weapons in terms of its domestic legitimacy and ideological framework, and that it now would be quite difficult to abandon this unifying theme after having announced it so loudly and clearly to its own population.

CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Korean Central Broadcasting Station Statement

III. Nautilus Invites Your Responses


 

I. Introduction

The following statement was broadcast over radio and television in the DPRK on February 10, 2005. We are distributing this text to NAPSNet readers in addition to the text of the KCNA statement of the same date [see: https://nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/2005/feb/ndr10feb05.html] because a careful reading will show that this text is more strongly stated in some respects than the KCNA version. Pitched at a domestic audience, this statement suggests a higher degree of committal to non-participation in future six party talks and may not be rhetorical bluster or a tactical maneuver, as some (including US Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice) have suggested.

It also suggests that the DPRK leadership is now highly committed to nuclear weapons in terms of its domestic legitimacy and ideological framework, and that it now would be quite difficult to abandon this unifying theme after having announced it so loudly and clearly to its own population.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Nautilus Institute. Readers should note that Nautilus seeks a diversity of views and opinions on contentious topics in order to identify common ground.

II. Korean Central Broadcasting Station Statement

-“DPRK ‘Manufactured’ Nuclear Weapons, To ‘Suspend’ 6-Way Talks for ‘Indefinite Period'”

Korean Central Broadcasting Station Statement

DPRK FM: DPRK ‘Manufactured’ Nuclear Weapons, To ‘Suspend’ 6-Way Talks for ‘Indefinite Period’ on Pyongyang Korean Central Broadcasting Station in Korean 0600 GMT February 10, 2005, also carried by Pyongyang Korean Central Television via satellite during its 0800 GMT newscast on February 10, 2005.

We bring you a DPRK Foreign Ministry statement [choso’ninminminjuju’igonghwaguk oemuso’ng so’ngmyo’ng].

DPRK Foreign Ministry Statement:

The second-term Bush administration’s attempt to antagonize [cho’ktaesi] and by all means isolate and crush our Republic has become completely clear.

As we have declared many times, we have raised with the United States our rightful demand that it renounce its hostile policy aimed at overthrowing our system [chedojo’nbok], make a policy switchover to one of DPRK-US peaceful coexistence, and have expressed the position that, if only that were to happen, the nuclear issue can be resolved completely. From this stand, we have sharply watched, with patience, the second-term Bush regime’s [pushwi cho’nggwo’n] policy formulation process.

However, the second-term Bush administration turned down our just demand in the end [uriu’i cho’ngdanghan yoguru’l kku’nnae oemyo’n] and made it a policy through the president’s inaugural speech, the State of the Union address, and remarks made during the secretary of state’s congressional confirmation hearings that it will absolutely not coexist with us.

Looking at high-ranking US administration figures’ comments, which have clarified official US policy positions, we cannot find anywhere one single word on coexistence with us or on a policy switchover vis-a-vis the DPRK.

Rather, they proclaimed as the ultimate goal the termination of tyranny [p’ogapcho’ngch’i], defined our country as an outpost of tyranny, too, and publicly made the outburst that it will not rule out the use of force if necessary.

They then pledged to mold the world into one shape and form that only follows US-style values through the spread of US-style freedom and democracy.

In conclusion, the second-term Bush administration’s real intention [ponsim] is to not only follow the first term’s policy of isolating and crushing the DPRK in its exact form but to further strengthen it.

Like this, the United States is attempting to deceive the world’s public opinion by proclaiming a new ideological confrontation aimed at overthrowing our system while, on the other hand, chanting prayers about a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue and the resumption of the six-party talks.

This is indeed brigandish, farfetched logic and an example that vividly shows the US disposition as a master of stratagem and deception as well as its brazen two-sided position.

We have hitherto clearly expressed the position that, as long as the United States does not pick fights with our system and does not interfere in our domestic affairs, we, too, will not promote anti-Americanism [panmiru’l hajiank’o] and treat it as a friendly nation [ubangu’rojinaelgo’t] and have made every effort possible to resolve the nuclear issue and improve DPRK-US relations.

However, the United States mistook this as our weakness and defiled our highly dignified system, which our people chose, and dared to commit terrible acts of interference in domestic affairs [muso’un naejo’ngganso’p haengwiru’l kamhaeng]. Under the condition where the United States is completely negating [cho’nmyo’nbujo’ng] us while calling us a tyrannical regime [p’ogapcho’nggwo’n] — as if turning down our demand that it withdraw its hostile policy, a fundamental impediment to the resolution of the nuclear issue, and antagonizing us were not enough — the very reason for holding talks with the United States has vanished. Thus, we cannot participate in the six-party talks anymore. [migugi haengmunjehaegyo’ru’i ku’nbonjangaein cho’ktaesijo’ngch’aegu’l ch’o’rhoeharanu’n uriu’i yoguru’l oemyo’nhago uriru’l cho’ktaesihada mot’ae p’ogapcho’nggwo’nirago hamyo’nso’ cho’nmyo’n pujo’nghaenaso’n chogo’neso’ migukkwa hoedamhal myo’ngbunjoch’a sarajyo’ssu’mu’ro urinu’n to’nu’n yukchahoedame ch’amgahal su opke toeo’tta]

Is it not all too clear that it is contradictory and illogical to tell a partner to the talks to come out to the talks while negating it [the talks partner]? One can only go so far in looking down on its talks partner. Foolishly enough, the United States is now negating our government, which was elected by the people, and is saying that it stands on the side of the people. What we are saying is: If the United States really wants to have talks, it can just have talks with peasant market merchants, whom the United States is said to like, or with the representatives of the North Korean defectors organizations the United States is said to have formed [hoedamu’l cho’ng hagosiptamyo’n migugi choahandago hanu’n nongminsijang changsakkundu’rina migugi mandu’ro’ noattago hanu’n t’albukcha chojik taep’yodulgwana haranu’n ko’sida].

Japan, too, is servilely following the United States and is obstinately clinging to a hostile policy toward our Republic.

Furthermore, how can we sit across from Japan in one place and hold talks with it when it is saying it will nullify the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and will not normalize diplomatic relations while going so far as to fabricate the false remains issue over the abductions issue, which has already been settled completely?

It is the trend of the times in the new century and mankind’s ardent desire to transcend differences in ideology, theory, system, and religion and aspire for peace, coexistence, and prosperity. It is by no means fortuitous that the entire world is currently raising voices of curse and denunciation that the Bush administration, which is countering such a trend of the times, is indeed a group that perpetrates tyranny prompted by extreme misanthropy.

We have shown all the magnanimity and tolerance we could during the last four years since the inauguration of the Bush administration [urinu’n pushwi haengjo’ngbuga ch’wiimhan irae chinan sanyo’ngan aryangu’l poilmank’u’m ta poyo’tko ch’amu’lmank’u’m ta ch’amawatta]. Now we cannot spend another four years like this, but there is no need to return to the starting point again and repeat [what we did] for the [next] four years, either [ije tto tasi sanyo’nu’l chigu’mch’o’ro’m chinaelsu o’psu’myo’ ku’ro’t’ago tasi wo’njo’mu’ro toedoraga sanyo’ndongan panbokhal p’iryodo opta].

The DPRK Foreign Ministry declares the following to cope with the grave situation [o’mjunghan cho’ngse] created by the US hostile policy toward the DPRK:

First, we wanted the six-party talks, but we will inevitably suspend participation in the six-party talks for an indefinite period until it is recognized that the justification for participating in the talks has been made and that ample conditions and atmosphere have been created for us to expect results from the talks [ch’o’ttchae urinu’n yukchahoedamu’l wo’nhaetchiman hoedam ch’amgamyo’ngbuni maryo’ndoego hoedam kyo’lgwaru’l kidaehalsuinnu’n ch’ungbunhan chogo’ngwa punwigiga choso’ngdoeo’ttago injo’ngdoel ttaekkagi pulgap’ihage yukchahoedam ch’amgaru’l mugihan chungdanhal ko’sida].

The six-party talks process fell into a deadlock like it did now because of the US hostile policy toward the DPRK.

Under the condition where the Bush administration went beyond its hostile policy this time and completely negated us while branding its partner to the talks as an outpost of tyranny, there is no justification whatsoever [for us] to attend the six-party talks again.

Second, now that the United States has clearly disclosed the attempt to by all means eliminate our system by wielding a nuclear stick, we will take measures to increase the nuclear arsenal in order to defend the ideas, system, freedom, and democracy chosen by our people [tultchae migugi haengmongdungiru’l hwiduru’myo’nso’ uri chedoru’l kio’i o’psebo’rigettanu’n kidoru’l myo’ngbaekhi tu’ro’naen isang uriinmini so’nt’aekhan sasanggwa chedo chayuwa minjujuu’iru’l chik’igiwihae haengmugigoru’l nu’rigiwihan taech’aegu’l ch’wihal ko’sida].

It is the spirit of the DPRK, which follows military-first politics, to respond to goodwill with goodwill and force with force [so’nu’ienu’n so’nu’iro himenu’n himu’ro taeu’nghanu’n ko’si so’ngunjo’ngch’iru’l ttaru’go innu’n uriu’i kijirida].

We have already resolutely withdrawn from the NPT and have manufactured nuclear weapons for self-defense to cope with the Bush administration’s policy of isolating and crushing the DPRK, which is becoming stronger [urinu’n imi pushwi haengjo’ngbuu’i chu’ngdaedoenu’n taejoso’n koribapsal cho’ngch’aege masso’ haengmugi cho’np’abangjijoyageso’ tanhohi t’alt’oehayo’tko chawiru’l wihae haengmugiru’l mandu’ro’tta].

Our nuclear weapons will remain a self-defensive nuclear deterrent under any circumstances [uriu’i haengmuginu’n o’dikkajina chawijo’k haego’kcheryo’gu’ro namaissu’l ko’sida].

Today’s reality shows that only strong power can protect justice and defend the truth.

As the United States’ imprudent rash acts and hostile attempts become more blatant, we only feel great pride in having strengthened, in every way from early on, the single-hearted unity of the entire army and all the people and self-defensive national defense capability while holding high the military-first banner.

There is no change in our principled stance of resolving the issue through dialogue and negotiations and in the ultimate goal of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula [taehwawa hyo’psangu’l t’onghayo’ munjeru’l haegyo’rharyo’nu’n uriu’i wo’nch’ikcho’k ipchanggwa choso’nbandoru’l pihaekhwaharyo’nu’n ch’oejongmokp’yoenu’n pyo’nhami optta].

[Dated] 10 February 2005, Chuch’e 94; Pyongyang

III. Nautilus Invites Your Responses

The Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network invites your responses to this essay. Please send responses to: bscott@nautilus.org. Responses will be considered for redistribution to the network only if they include the author’s name, affiliation, and explicit consent.