Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Japan says no to N. Korean offer

|
|
 
  
Published: Oct. 10, 2008 at 1:33 AM

TOKYO, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has turned down a U.S.-supported North Korean nuclear verification offer, sources told the Financial Times.

The Times, quoting two sources familiar with the decision, reported the new Japanese prime minister did not accept the offer despite U.S. urging.

The issue relates to U.S. efforts to reach an understanding with the Communist country for its denuclearization. The issue, part of the six-nation talks, has bogged down over U.S. demand for verification in return for removing Pyongyang from its list of state sponsors of terror.

The Times report said the new verification offer from North Korea was reached with chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill last week.

The report said the United States decided to accept that offer if it was similarly accepted by other nations in the talks which include Japan, China, Russia and South Korea.

It quoted a Japanese source that the reason for Japan's rejection was that the offer "seems bad." The rejection has led the United States to seek more concessions from North Korea, the report said.

In recent weeks, North Korea had expelled inspectors with the U.N. atomic watchdog from its main Yongbyon nuclear complex, which was disabled earlier.

The Times report said U.S. intelligence has noticed activities which may indicate North Korea may be preparing for a nuclear test.

Topics: Taro Aso
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 25
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth attend the "BAFTA" ceremony in London
View Caption
fark
Photoshop this striking side shot
You gotta ask yourself what kind of management a motel has it when a room there contains a body...
Twins in yearlong quarantine. No, they don't want any Doublemint gum
The Marines are apparently doing things we think only happen in Rambo movies
Remember back in the day when you had to walk to school, barefoot, uphill both ways, in the snow?...
Time to load up on beer, milk, bread and beer, north Atlanta is in for massive blizzard with up...