EDITORIAL: North's uranium facility

With no external deterrence in place, North Korea's nuclear problem has entered a new phase.

Earlier this month, a visiting U.S. nuclear scientist was shown a uranium enrichment facility in North Korea. This was the first time the presence of such a facility was confirmed since Pyongyang began talking openly last year about its uranium enrichment project.

North Korea's nuclear ambitions have become more patent of late. A tunnel, which could be used for nuclear tests, has been newly drilled. Pyongyang has also revealed its plans to build an experimental light water reactor for the stated purpose of securing its own energy supply.

Pyongyang, in short, is doing whatever it pleases, and this is just not acceptable. Anything that will deepen the nuclear threat to the region must be stopped.

We do not know how the uranium enrichment facility is being operated. But should the facility go beyond the production of low-enriched uranium for fueling a light water reactor and start repeating the enrichment process until a weapons-grade high enrichment level is achieved, North Korea would acquire the capability to develop uranium-type nuclear weapons.

It will add to the threat of plutonium bombs, which Pyongyang has already tested twice. Once Pyongyang becomes capable of building uranium as well as plutonium bombs, Northeast Asia will come under graver threat.

One thing to note is that Pyongyang invited U.S. nuclear experts to inspect the uranium enrichment facility and be present at the time of disclosure of its plans for the construction of a light water reactor.

It appears that Pyongyang's ploy in each instance was to make the United States, which is said to hold the key to North Korea's survival, aware of the "gravity of the situation" and nudge the country into resuming bilateral talks.

The ultimate goal of the bilateral talks is maintaining the Kim dynasty by replacing the 1953 armistice of the Korean War with a full peace treaty and eventually normalizing relations with the United States.

Pyongyang is believed to be hoping to negotiate its way into firming up the process of succession from Kim Jong Il to his third son, Jon Un.

But these hopes aside, what North Korea ought to do is abandon its nuclear ambitions in keeping with the six-party agreement to that effect.

The agreement envisions North Korea's denuclearization, normalization of its relations with the United States and Japan and economic aid as a package.

This is the only principle by which a comprehensive solution can be sought for the North Korean nuclear problem.

For Japan and all other countries concerned, the important thing is how to set up a situation that will have Pyongyang return to the negotiating table.

In the wake of the latest development concerning Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, a U.S. government representative is visiting Japan, South Korea and China.

Since the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel this past spring--allegedly by North Korea--Japan, South Korea and the United States have been unable to hold the six-party talks or take other measures to address the North Korean problem.

But South Korea has made the tough decision to keep the North Korean nuclear issue separate from the sinking of the naval vessel.

In keeping with this decision, Japan, South Korea and the United States must coordinate their respective positions and further strengthen their unity in dealing with North Korea.

China, on which North Korea relies for its economic and energy needs, also bears heavy responsibility.

As the presiding nation of the six-party talks, China should do whatever it can to bring North Korea back to the right path, not just keep protecting it to avoid confusion.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 23