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US says others may help supply North Korea energy
28 Oct 2008 23:08:47 GMT
 Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Countries outside the five-nation group negotiating North Korea's nuclear disarmament have volunteered to help supply North Korea with energy as a reward, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday.

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said he had discussed the matter with Japan's top nuclear negotiator, Akitaka Saiki, at the State Department.

Under an agreement last year between North Korea and its five negotiating partners, up to 1 million tonnes of heavy fuel, or energy aid equivalent to that, will be provided to North Korea when it disables its nuclear facility at Yongbyon and declares its nuclear programs.

But Japan, one of the five nations, has so far refused to give energy aid to North Korea because of a dispute over abducted Japanese citizens.

Tokyo is under pressure from Seoul, which wants Japan to join South Korea, China, Russia and the United States in providing energy aid that was promised.

Over the weekend, there were media reports that other countries, such as Australia, might pitch in instead of Japan to provide heavy fuel oil to North Korea.

Hill, asked about Australia's possible participation, said some other countries had "expressed interest" in supplying the fuel oil, but declined to name them.

"We're going to work with them and try to see if we can complete the fuel oil deliveries so we can synchronize that with the disablement activities," he said, referring to the disablement of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility.

Asked whether Saiki accepted that another country might deliver the oil instead of Japan, Hill said, "we didn't discuss that except to say that we have been in contact with other countries on it."

North Korea said last week that Japan was no longer qualified to be involved in the six-party talks because it has refused to provide energy assistance.

But the government in Tokyo faces pressure at home to find the fate of 12 people Japan lists as missing after being kidnapped by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s.

Hill also said that a North Korean delegation would be going to New York next week for a meeting with a nongovernmental organization, and this would provide a chance for some consultations with Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the six-party talks.

The United States removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist this month in exchange for Pyongyang's agreement to verification measures for its nuclear activities. That agreement needs to be approved by the other members of the six-party talks. Hill said they were trying to find a date for a meeting "as soon as we can." (Editing by Mohammad Zargham)


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Last updated:Tue Oct 28 23:11:17 2008