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CNN Live At Daybreak

North Korea Again Denouncing U.S.

Aired January 08, 2003 - 05:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, turning again now to North Korea's growing nuclear crisis, the communist nation is again denouncing the United States. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency says: "There is an increasing danger of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula due to the U.S. criminal policy towards the People Democratic Republic of North Korea." It goes on to say: "The U.S. is deliberately spreading a false rumor about the DPRK's nuclear issue."
Now those accusations came just hours after Washington softened its stance and agreed to talk with North Korea.

CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has those details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As tens of thousands of North Koreans demonstrated against the United States in Pyongyang, raising the nuclear stand-off to a new pitch, an unexpected offer by the U.S. to talk, but not negotiate.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: But North Korea needs to make clear that it will live up to its obligations, that it will undo the steps, that it will end these nuclear programs.

KOPPEL: But a senior administration source tells CNN back channel talks between these two rivals have, in fact, been ongoing for weeks.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I believe that by working with countries in the region diplomacy will work.

KOPPEL: In a promising move, South Korea appeared to echo the U.S. line.

LEE TAE-SIK, SOUTH KOREAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: The first step should come out from the DPRK in terms of keeping up the nuclear weapons programs.

KOPPEL: After that, South Korea said substantive talks could follow. Senior U.S. officials say the elements of a possible deal are under active discussion. If North Korea ends its nuclear program, the U.S. could issue a declaration assuring the North it won't attack. The U.S. could also provide additional aid to boost the North's supply of fuel and electricity, and the U.S. could agree to renew talks on improving diplomatic relations. (on camera): But already the crisis has further strained diplomatic relations between the U.S. and South Korea, close allies who strongly disagree over what could become a sticking point in any potential deal, how to supply the North with an acceptable and benign source of energy. The South Koreans want to move ahead with construction of two lightwater reactors. They've already pumped $5 billion into them. While the U.S. wants to scrap the deal and opt instead for coal powered plants.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 8, 2003 - 05:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, turning again now to North Korea's growing nuclear crisis, the communist nation is again denouncing the United States. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency says: "There is an increasing danger of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula due to the U.S. criminal policy towards the People Democratic Republic of North Korea." It goes on to say: "The U.S. is deliberately spreading a false rumor about the DPRK's nuclear issue."
Now those accusations came just hours after Washington softened its stance and agreed to talk with North Korea.

CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has those details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As tens of thousands of North Koreans demonstrated against the United States in Pyongyang, raising the nuclear stand-off to a new pitch, an unexpected offer by the U.S. to talk, but not negotiate.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: But North Korea needs to make clear that it will live up to its obligations, that it will undo the steps, that it will end these nuclear programs.

KOPPEL: But a senior administration source tells CNN back channel talks between these two rivals have, in fact, been ongoing for weeks.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I believe that by working with countries in the region diplomacy will work.

KOPPEL: In a promising move, South Korea appeared to echo the U.S. line.

LEE TAE-SIK, SOUTH KOREAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: The first step should come out from the DPRK in terms of keeping up the nuclear weapons programs.

KOPPEL: After that, South Korea said substantive talks could follow. Senior U.S. officials say the elements of a possible deal are under active discussion. If North Korea ends its nuclear program, the U.S. could issue a declaration assuring the North it won't attack. The U.S. could also provide additional aid to boost the North's supply of fuel and electricity, and the U.S. could agree to renew talks on improving diplomatic relations. (on camera): But already the crisis has further strained diplomatic relations between the U.S. and South Korea, close allies who strongly disagree over what could become a sticking point in any potential deal, how to supply the North with an acceptable and benign source of energy. The South Koreans want to move ahead with construction of two lightwater reactors. They've already pumped $5 billion into them. While the U.S. wants to scrap the deal and opt instead for coal powered plants.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com