ヒル氏 北朝鮮の出方見守る考え重ねて強調

　６か国協議で合意された核施設の停止などの期限が過ぎたことについて、アメリカ・ヒル国務次官補は１５日、数日間は、北朝鮮の出方を見守る考えを強調した。

　中国・北京から戻ったヒル次官補は「もう少し我慢するが、期限を過ぎたのは気になるので、北朝鮮の出方を見なければならない」と述べ、数日間は、見守る考えを重ねて強調した上で、「永遠に待つことはできない」として、核施設の停止など約束を果たすよう北朝鮮にあらためて求めた。

　一方、韓国政府は、北朝鮮へのコメ支援を一時的に保留することを検討している。４０万トンのコメ支援は、１８日から北朝鮮・平壌で開かれる南北の会合で正式に決まる見込みだったが、北朝鮮が核施設停止への行動を起こしていない段階で支援すれば、批判が高まることに配慮したものとみられる。

日テレNEWS24

U.S. urges N. Korea to act on promises

By Gillian Wong, Associated Press Writer | April 15, 2007

BEIJING --North Korea was under pressure Sunday to take action after failing to meet a deadline for shutting its nuclear reactor, with Washington calling for Pyongyang to allow nuclear inspectors back into the country.

The U.S. also sent a message to Pyongyang through its embassy in Beijing urging it to act on its promises according to the nuclear agreement, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator, said Sunday.

North Korea had until Saturday to shut down its Yongbyon reactor and allow inspectors from the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to verify and seal the facility.

In return, it was to have received 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil under an agreement with the U.S. and four other governments to abandon its nuclear programs.

Saturday's missed deadline marked the latest setback in an agreement, that when reached in February offered the prospect of disarming the world's newest nuclear power. North Korea tested a nuclear bomb in October.

Hill said the U.S. note to North Korea, delivered Saturday, urged Pyongyang to fulfill its commitments and invite U.N. nuclear inspectors into the country.

"It's their turn now. The ball's in their court," he said in Beijing, ahead of his departure for Washington later Sunday.

"We're not happy that the DPRK essentially has missed this very important deadline," Hill said, using the official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We're obviously going to be watching the situation very closely in the coming days."

Hill said the U.S. was prepared "to hold on for a few more days" after talks Saturday with his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, who asked the U.S. for patience.

Washington, however, has held back from criticizing Pyongyang for missing the 60-day deadline, but called on the North to show it remained committed to giving up its nuclear weapons.

"It remains for the DPRK to realize fully its commitments under the February 13 agreement by inviting back the IAEA immediately to begin shutting and sealing the Yongbyon nuclear facility," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

North Korea kicked IAEA inspectors out and quit the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in December 2002.

"It is time now for the DPRK to make its move so that all of us can move forward," McCormack said.

The timetable for the North's disarmament was tripped up by a dispute over North Korean deposits frozen in a tiny Macau bank, which was blacklisted by Washington for allegedly abetting money-laundering and counterfeiting.

North Korea refused to make any move until the funds issue was resolved, but the matter -- which was supposed to have been resolved in mid-March -- dragged on until this past week.

Pyongyang has not responded to the latest diplomatic maneuvering. The North Korean capital was consumed by preparations for Sunday's birthday of the communist nation's late founder, Kim Il Sung.

Hill has said he expected negotiators for the six countries involved -- South Korea, Japan and Russia as well as the U.S., North Korea and China -- would likely meet again before the end of the month to discuss the next phases in disarming North Korea.

U.S. urges N. Korea to act on promises - Boston.com

北朝鮮の資金解除確認 焦点に

北朝鮮が核施設の稼働停止などの措置を期限どおりに履行しなかったことを受け、週明けの１６日以降、北朝鮮が、凍結解除されたマカオの銀行の資金の返還を確認する作業に着手するかどうかが、核問題の当面の行方を左右することになりそうです。

北朝鮮はことし２月の６か国協議で、核の放棄に向けた初期段階の措置として、核施設の稼働停止と封印、それにＩＡＥＡ・国際原子力機関の査察官を受け入れることで合意しましたが、凍結が解除されたマカオの銀行の資金の返還を確認することが先決だとして、期限だった１４日までに合意を履行しませんでした。これを受け、アメリカは、北京を訪れていたヒル国務次官補が北朝鮮大使館にメッセージを送るなど履行を急ぐよう重ねて求めています。北朝鮮は先週、資金返還が確認できれば初期段階の措置を履行するという立場を示しています。ただ、口座の一部は外国人名義であることから、全額が返還されなければ北朝鮮が異議を唱える可能性があるうえ、マネーロンダリング・資金洗浄など不法行為にかかわった資金はなかったと表明するようアメリカに求めていた主張を再度、持ち出すおそれも指摘されています。北朝鮮が核放棄に向けた措置に踏み切るかどうかなど核問題の当面の行方は、マカオの銀行が営業を再開する１６日以降、北朝鮮が口座への入金状況など具体的な確認作業に着手するかどうかが左右することになりそうです。

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