1994 Geneva Agreement Backgrounder
After a month��셲 of hostility, we are now facing another hostile act by the United States with their threat to stop shipments of oil to North Korea from the beginning of 2003.
In 1994, North Korea and the United States produced the Geneva Agreed Framework, which consists of
1) freezing North Korea’s nuclear program in exchange for the United States’ promise to construct two Light Water Reactors (civilian type of nuclear power) by 2003 and the supply of oil to North Korea,
2) United States’ assurance of non-aggression or use of nuclear weapons against North Korea,
3) Both sides would move towards the full normalization of relations, with the gradual lifting of economic sanctions against North Korea.
As of now, the Agreement has not been realized; both parties are equally responsible for delays in meeting the above provisions.
In mid October of this year, U.S. special envoy James Kelly made a trip to North Korea. After his return, the Bush administration announced that North Korean officials admitted that they had a program to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons and that North Korea considered the Agreement “nullified.”
A week later, North Korean officials announced that it was the United States’ that had violated the agreement. North Korea accused the United States of falling behind on the original schedule to build Light Water Reactors, and more seriously, the United States had not only labeled North Korea “axis of evil,” but also set a military policy of pre-emptive attack against North Korea.
Presently North Korea is stating that the government is ready to address the United States’ security concerns through dialogue, only if 1) U.S. recognizes North Korea’s sovereignty; 2) U.S. assures North Korea of non-aggression; and 3) U.S. does not hinder the economic development of North Korea.
After a month’s of hostility, we are now facing another hostile act by the United States with their threat to stop shipments of oil to North Korea from the beginning of 2003. This decision is in direct conflict with the position of U.S. allies, South Korea and Japan.
On November 14, 2002, the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO), international consortium established to administer the Geneva agreement, will hold their executive board meeting to discuss the issue of continued oil shipments to North Korea. At this event, peace loving U.S. citizens who support a nuclear-free Korea, urge the United States and North Korean government to do the following:
1) United States must continue to send oil shipments to North Korea
The continuation of oil shipment is one of the last significant opportunities for the United States and North Korea to build peace in the Korean peninsula. An end to oil shipments would create extreme hardship for the North Korean children who must live through the harsh winter without heat energy.
2) United States and North Korea must renegotiate the 1994 Geneva Agreement.
All provisions in the Agreement need to be recommitted, rescheduled and revived.
3) United States and North Korea must resolve security issues through dialogue, and without any preconditions.
Both sides must agree to meet, face to face, and begin real negotiations. There should be no preconditions for peace.
2002 / -1 / 1-
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