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World's Nuclear Watchdog Refers North Korea Issue to Security Council
Aired February 13, 2003 - 05:13 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the North Korean nuclear crisis. The world's nuclear watchdog agency has referred the issue to the U.N. Security Council, which is a big deal. IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei says he believes peaceful diplomacy can bring the North Koreans into line. Although the vote was unanimous, Russia and Cuba did abstain. One U.S. official says that so far there is no evidence North Korea has actually fired up its Yongbyon nuclear plant.
Pyongyang is certainly not pleased with this action by the international agency, though, and we want to get more on that from our Seoul bureau chief, Sohn Jie-Ae.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, for South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman said that the IAEA's decision to refer to the U.N. Security Council the North Korea's nuclear issue was appropriate since North Korea did not meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But he called upon North Korea to come forth and use this window of opportunity to get a diplomatic resolution to the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUN YUNG-WOO, SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We hope the Security Council, which is firstly responsible for the international peace and safety, could prevent this situation from worsening and promote a diplomatic resolution of the nuclear issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIE-AE: Now, Japan also called for, to North Korea to reopen dialogue with the outside world. But the Japanese spokesman cautioned against immediate sanctions against North Korea. Now, these diplomatic calls come upon the backdrop of U.S. intelligence reports that say North Korea probably has one or two nuclear weapons and the capability to reach at least the West Coast of the United States.
This, in reaction to this, there are reports coming out of Pyongyang that North Korean foreign ministry officials have said that it has the capability to hit its enemies anywhere in the world. So you can see the war of words again escalating here on the Korean Peninsula -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sohn Jie-Ae reporting live from Seoul, South Korea this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Security Council>
Aired February 13, 2003 - 05:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the North Korean nuclear crisis. The world's nuclear watchdog agency has referred the issue to the U.N. Security Council, which is a big deal. IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei says he believes peaceful diplomacy can bring the North Koreans into line. Although the vote was unanimous, Russia and Cuba did abstain. One U.S. official says that so far there is no evidence North Korea has actually fired up its Yongbyon nuclear plant.
Pyongyang is certainly not pleased with this action by the international agency, though, and we want to get more on that from our Seoul bureau chief, Sohn Jie-Ae.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, for South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman said that the IAEA's decision to refer to the U.N. Security Council the North Korea's nuclear issue was appropriate since North Korea did not meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But he called upon North Korea to come forth and use this window of opportunity to get a diplomatic resolution to the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUN YUNG-WOO, SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We hope the Security Council, which is firstly responsible for the international peace and safety, could prevent this situation from worsening and promote a diplomatic resolution of the nuclear issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIE-AE: Now, Japan also called for, to North Korea to reopen dialogue with the outside world. But the Japanese spokesman cautioned against immediate sanctions against North Korea. Now, these diplomatic calls come upon the backdrop of U.S. intelligence reports that say North Korea probably has one or two nuclear weapons and the capability to reach at least the West Coast of the United States.
This, in reaction to this, there are reports coming out of Pyongyang that North Korean foreign ministry officials have said that it has the capability to hit its enemies anywhere in the world. So you can see the war of words again escalating here on the Korean Peninsula -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sohn Jie-Ae reporting live from Seoul, South Korea this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Security Council>
