INTL After Iran Deal, US Says Ready For 'Authentic, Credible' Negotiations With North Korea

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Oh man, they aren't even waiting for the microphones to cool off. If you think this Iran agreement is an opener to a "big hot mess", this just about cinches a trifecta with Ukraine added to things.....

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v8/wn/newsworld.php?id=1153217

After Iran Deal, US Says Ready For 'Authentic, Credible' Negotiations With North Korea

WASHINGTON, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Iranian nuclear deal shows the US willingness to engage even countries "with long-standing differences," the State Department said Tuesday, stressing the US is ready for negotiations as long as Pyongyang is serious about denuclearisation, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

State Department spokesman John Kirby made the comment after Iran and six world powers announced a historic deal that calls for significantly limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the United States and others lifting economic sanctions that have stifled the Middle Eastern nation's economy.

"Progress in the nuclear talks with Iran clearly demonstrates our willingness to engage countries with whom the US has long-standing differences," Kirby said in reponse to a Yonhap News Agency question on the Iranian deal's possible implications on the North Korean standoff.

"We are prepared for negotiations, provided that they are authentic and credible, get at the entirety of the North's nuclear program, and result in concrete and irreversible steps toward denuclearization," he said. "Pyongyang's attempts to engage in dialogue while keeping critical elements of its weapons programme running are unacceptable."

Kirby also said that the US will judge North Korea by its actions, not its words.

"Denuclearisation remains our top priority. We remain in close contact with the other Five-Party partners on our shared goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner," he said.

Six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean impasse have been idled since late 2008. North Korea has demanded unconditional resumption of negotiations and the US has maintained that Pyongyang must first take concrete steps demonstrating its denuclearization commitments.

While the six-party talks have been on hold, the North has bolstered its nuclear capabilities and stockpile, conducting its second and third nuclear tests in 2009 and 2013. Some experts now warn that the communist nation's n nuclear arsenal could expand to up to 100 bombs by 2020.

-- BERNAMA
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/07/15/2015071501635.html

Iran Nuclear Deal Leaves N.Korea Exposed

International negotiations to end Iran's nuclear weapons development program ended on Tuesday. A group of six nations led by the U.S. said they reached a historic accord in Vienna, Austria that would significantly limit Tehran's nuclear ability in return for lifting international oil and financial sanctions.

The Iranian nuclear crisis erupted 13 years ago.

The deal ends 20 months of negotiations that saw the two sides fighting bitterly over key issues, such as inspections by international monitors, and passed several deadlines. Several times it looked as if the deal would fall through, not helped by angry opposition from the Israel lobby in the U.S., but a breakthrough was reached after Tehran agreed to allow unlimited inspections by the IAEA.

If the U.S. Congress approves the deal, U.S. and UN sanctions against Iran will be lifted early next year. This will also stimulate South Korean trade and investment involving Iran.

Iran has been suffering a severe economic slump due to international sanctions. Despite holding the world's fourth-largest crude oil reserves, Tehran was unable to sell the commodity on the international markets. Its economy reeled under 16 percent annual inflation.

With the latest deal, Iran has chosen economic prosperity over nuclear weapons. This decision was made possible because President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate, came to office in August of 2013. Rouhani started negotiations the day after his inauguration amid fierce resistance from hardline military brass. When a tentative agreement was reached in April, young Iranians took to the streets shouting their support for Rouhani, and the latest deal was met with equal euphoria.

Tehran's choice has left North Korea truly isolated. Pyongyang has been secretly developing nuclear weapons in violation of international agreements since the 1990s. The North is still fooling itself that it can develop nuclear weapons and boost its flagging economy at the same time.

Seoul's diplomatic priority should be on waking the North up from this ludicrous dream. South Korea should clearly flag up Tehran's decision to sway Pyongyang. The U.S. has gained enormous momentum with the Iran deal in its efforts to halt nuclear proliferation. The time has come to restart talks and end North Korea's nuclear weapons program once and for all.


englishnews@chosun.com / Jul. 15, 2015 13:00 KST
 

Countrymouse

Country exile in the city
My thoughts on the news today are pretty much summed up by the following.

(Satan must be absolutely having orgasms. But his day is approaching...)


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