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North Korea's Revelation Could Complicate Plans for Dealing with Iraq
Aired October 17, 2002 - 07:36 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: North Korea's revelation that it has secretly been developing nuclear weapons could complicate the Bush administration's plans for dealing with Iraq.
Let's turn to Nic Robertson, who has been taking us inside Iraq all week long.
He joins us now live from Baghdad with some reaction to this stunning admission -- good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, it really is wait and see time here in Iraq. They are looking to the U.N. at the moment to see the development of the discussion and debate there, waiting to see what new resolution may come out.
Perhaps the last piece on the referendum jigsaw puzzle here. No surprise, as we know, who won the vote. But that was played out late last night on television. The Revolutionary Command Council, chaired by President Saddam Hussein, met. All the big players in the country were there. This is the highest legislative body in the country, two vice presidents, the vice chairman of that Council, the deputy prime minister, the head of the ruling Baath Party.
And they came essentially to congratulate the president on his victory. Now, President Saddam Hussein said that he thanked the observers who had come to the country for overseeing what he called the democratic practice of the election.
He also said that he felt following the results of the referendum that the people in the country were now more confident, that they were more ready, willing and able to withstand any attack that might come their way -- Paula.
ZAHN: Let's talk about any official reaction there has been to stunning admission on North Korea's part that it has a pretty advanced nuclear weapons program.
ROBERTSON: So far, no official statement. However, in the past, Iraq does pay very close attention to what goes on in the international arena. They will look at the way North Korea is dealt with in this situation. In the past, Iraq has called foul play, if you will, on other issues, such as the implementation of Security Council resolutions regarding the Palestinian issues and Israel.
So they will be looking at what happens and how North Korea is treated.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, appreciate the update.
Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Dealing with Iraq>
Aired October 17, 2002 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: North Korea's revelation that it has secretly been developing nuclear weapons could complicate the Bush administration's plans for dealing with Iraq.
Let's turn to Nic Robertson, who has been taking us inside Iraq all week long.
He joins us now live from Baghdad with some reaction to this stunning admission -- good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, it really is wait and see time here in Iraq. They are looking to the U.N. at the moment to see the development of the discussion and debate there, waiting to see what new resolution may come out.
Perhaps the last piece on the referendum jigsaw puzzle here. No surprise, as we know, who won the vote. But that was played out late last night on television. The Revolutionary Command Council, chaired by President Saddam Hussein, met. All the big players in the country were there. This is the highest legislative body in the country, two vice presidents, the vice chairman of that Council, the deputy prime minister, the head of the ruling Baath Party.
And they came essentially to congratulate the president on his victory. Now, President Saddam Hussein said that he thanked the observers who had come to the country for overseeing what he called the democratic practice of the election.
He also said that he felt following the results of the referendum that the people in the country were now more confident, that they were more ready, willing and able to withstand any attack that might come their way -- Paula.
ZAHN: Let's talk about any official reaction there has been to stunning admission on North Korea's part that it has a pretty advanced nuclear weapons program.
ROBERTSON: So far, no official statement. However, in the past, Iraq does pay very close attention to what goes on in the international arena. They will look at the way North Korea is dealt with in this situation. In the past, Iraq has called foul play, if you will, on other issues, such as the implementation of Security Council resolutions regarding the Palestinian issues and Israel.
So they will be looking at what happens and how North Korea is treated.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, appreciate the update.
Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Dealing with Iraq>
