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Kim Jong-il Arms His Successor
The North Korean delegation at the six-party negotiations on the North Korean nuclear problem in Beijing continued the tactic yesterday that it had chosen the day before, that is to make exaggerated demands and not respond to constructive proposals. The intelligence committee of the South Korean parliament found the explanation for the delegation's behavior. By testing nuclear weapons, Kim is preparing for the handing over of power to a successor.
Anonymous negotiators report that the talks are going progressively worse. The only achievement in the second day of talks was confirmation of the multilateral declaration made in September of last year. That declaration contained a promise by North Korea to stop nuclear testing in exchange for security guarantees and economic aid. That declaration was a Chinese initiative. But the North Korean delegation did not respond to China's proposal yesterday to form a working group to implement the declaration.
In informal discussion at the talks, it was said that North Korea is waiting for sanctions imposed by the United States in October of last year to be removed. Separate talks between the head of the president of the Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea O Kwang Chol and U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes of Daniel Glaser were begun yesterday on that topic. At issue is a North Korean account in Makao Delta Asia bank containing about $25 million that was frozen at the request of the U.S. Treasury Department.
North Korea stands to gain $300 million in economic aid by continuing negotiations. A South Korean Foreign Ministry official suggested in an interview with Kommersant that the explanation for the North Korean's illogical behavior may be that the money in the Delta Asia bank may belong to Kim personally, or that it is simply an excuse to leave talks and continue with its nuclear program.
A report released yesterday by the South Korean Peace Foundation suggested that the purpose of the October 9 nuclear test in North Korea was to raise Kim's authority in the North Korean military in order to avoid resistance to the transfer of power tone of his three sons. Therefore, the report continues, North Korea will not shut down its nuclear program, but will not walk out of talks for fear of more sanctions.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 20, 2006
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