Friday, June 25, 2004
Japan offers energy aid to Pyongyang
BEIJING: Japan offered Thursday to match international offers of energy aid to North Korea if the Stalinist state freezes all its nuclear programmes before they are abolished outright.
It was the first time that the Tokyo government announced its readiness, if conditional, to help the impoverished but heavily armed North with its energy needs, particularly heavy oil. The pledge was made at the six-nation talks here on North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the day after the United States proposed Pyongyang dismantle its plutonium and uranium weapons programmes in exchange for heavy oil and a guarantee not to invade the country.
South Korea and China, also members of the six-nation forum, have already been considering extending energy aid in response to North Korea's demand for "corresponding measures" in exchange for its nuclear freeze. afp
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