Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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U.S. reacts to N. Korea’s weapons BY GEORGE GEODA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — North Korea’s declared determination to become the world’s eighth npclear power has prompted a flurry of U.S. diplomatic activity as the Bush ad ministration, its policy of engage ment with Pyongyang discredited, ponders its next steps. Undersecretary of State John Bolton met Thursday with officials in China, a major trading partner of North Korea’s and perhaps the one country capable of extracting concessions from the communist nation through economic sanc tions, an administration official said. At the White House, reporters were told the Chinese were stunned upon learning of North Korea’s acknowledgment to U.S. officials that it was pursuing a nu clear weapons program. A U.S. delegation had confront ed North Korea with evidence gathered over the last several months, including recent bills of sale, that Pyongyang had been working to enrich uranium for nu clear weapons. That equipment most likely was part of a gas cen trifuge program to separate the weapons-grade uranium from or dinary fuel-grade uranium, pri vate analysts said Thursday. North Korea’s earlier nuclear efforts relied on plutonium, which makes smaller, lighter bombs but is much more difficult to produce and work with than enriched ura nium. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush be lieves North Korea’s admission is “troubling, sobering news.” He said Bush is seeking a peaceful so lution. Privately, White House officials said Bush and his senior advisers decided to confront the problem in a low-key fashion. Bush, for ex ample, made no public statements on it Thursday. Stressing the diplomatic ap proach, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said, “I think were going to see that no one wants to have a nuclear-armed North Korea and that effective in ternational pressure may have an effect on North Korea.” China, Russia, Japan and South Korea are among the countries which have a stake in a nuclear free North Korea, Rice said in an interview taped for the Thursday edition of ABC’s “Nightline.” Secretary of State-Colin Powell told a news conference in New York the United States was not planning military action against North Korea at present. The North Koreans told U.S. of ficials earlier this month that they no longer .consider valid a 1994 agreement with the United States under which Pyongyang promised to renounce nuclear weapons. It was not clear to U.S. officials whether the North actually has a nuclear capability or whether it is still in development. At a mini mum, North Korea apparently is close to joining the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, India and Pakistan as declared nu clear powers. Israel is thought to have hundreds of nuclear war heads but has never confirmed it has a nuclear weapons program. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld told a Pentagon press conference that he believes the North Koreans not only have a weapons program but have al ready produced some weapons. He cited an intelligence report in which the CIA said North Koreans “may have one or two,” and added, “I believe they have a small number of nuclear weapons.” Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said North Korea must allow international inspec tions of their nuclear facilities and must agree to destroy whatever weapons of mass destruction they have. “Pyongyang’s reckless brinkmanship must be met with firm and united resolve by the al lies of freedom and democracy,” said Rep. Henry Hyde, R-El., chair man of the House International Relations Committee. U.S. officials said they believe a nuclear-armed North Korea would alarm China because it would prompt Japan, China’s his toric rival, to carry out a military buildup of its own, forcing China to respond in kind. After his meetings in China, Bolton also planned to travel to Russia, Britain and France to dis cuss how to bring pressure to bear on North Korea. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly was in Beijing with Bolton and planned subsequent stops in Japan and South Korea. Kelly led the U.S. delegation to Pyongyang from Oct. 3-5 that con fronted North Korean officials with information that the North was developing nuclear weapons in violation of the 1994 agreement. At first the North Koreans de nied the allegation but then ac knowledged at the final meeting, on Oct. 4, that Kelly’s contention was correct. Powell said the North Koreans tried to blame the United States for their decision to renege on their promises. But, Powell said, “we pointed out to them that this violation of theirs preceded this administra tion and has been going on for years.” As for why the North Koreans made the admission, Henry Sokolski of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, said Pyongyang may see the bombs as a deterrent against a pre-emptive strike by the United States. Also, he suggested, Pyongyang may rea son it can get away with the dis closure now because the United States is too focused on Iraq to take action. At the meeting, the North Koreans’ demeanor and tone was especially belligerent and vitriolic, a separate U.S. official said, but added that they made no threat against any specific country. Instead, they uttered vague threats such as, “We will meet the sword with the sword.” Even without nuclear weapons, North Korea boasts a formidable military establishment. It has chemical and biological weapons deployed near the Demilitarized Zone and its troop strength is the fifth-largest in the world, with more than 1.17 million personnel, according to Pentagon estimates. It also has 200-300 interceptors and attack aircraft, including the MiG 218 and MiG-23s. Even though the North Korea repudiated the 1994 agreement, the Bush administration was not ready to announce its death, pre ferring to consult with other coun tries first. Officials said the administra tion is talking with allies about shutting down a program under which the United States provides North Korea with 500,000 tons of heating oil annually. The program is designed to help North Korea meet its energy needs during a transition period before the planned construction of two light water nuclear reactors, with financing mostly by South Korea and Japan. Those reactors were also part of the 1994 deal to bring about a nu clear weapons-free North Korea but that plan seems certain to be scrapped because of Wednesday’s disclosures about Pyongyang’s weapons plans. ( PHOTO BY CHUCK KENNEDY/ KRT CAMPUS Sniper investigators search for a white Chevy Astro van or Ford Econoline van in the D.C. area. Sniper CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “When we have people from the media interviewing witnesses and publishing reports, we get confu sion,” Moose said. “We get this noise... out there that gives peo ple tunnel vision and makes them focus in on things that are not ap propriate. ... We would like to be able to do our job.” Moose said the witness’ emphat ic description of the shooter’s AK 74 assault rifle is also bogus. But in vestigators cautioned that they still believe the sniper is using one of a family of more than 30 similar as sault-type weapons capable of firing a .223-caliber bullet. “The message we’re trying to say is please keep an open mind,” Moose said. “People saw a de scription of a weapon over the last day and a half and we’re con vinced they eliminated people they know because they say, ‘Their gun is not the weapon I saw in the paper.’” Moose said the disclosure of the fake story, coming a day after investigators said they were un able to draw a composite sketch, was hardly a setback. He said in vestigators were still chasing leads and he stood by previous composite drawings of vehicles witnesses reported seeing leaving the attacks: a white box truck and a Chevrolet Astro van or Ford Econoline van. Since Oct. 2, there have been 11 shootings in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., that have left nine people dead and two wounded. One of the wounded, a 13-year-old boy shot outside his school in Bowie, Md., was up graded Thursday from critical to serious condition. The other wounded person, a woman in Virginia, was released from a hos pital last week. The victims were men and wom en of varying ages and ethnic back grounds, each hit with a single bullet while going about everyday activi ties. A tarot death card left at one scene was inscribed: “Dear Policeman, I am God.” Law enforcement sources said the investigation by federal, state and local authorities has led to in formation about a number of peo ple with high-powered guns, both legally and illegally owned. A firearms safety instructor said the FBI has been asking registered owners of .223-caliber guns to bring them in for ballistic fingerprinting. “They’re looking for suspects,” said Mike Heffeman, owner of Self Defense Technologies in Kensington. “They’re looking at people who have a background in . firearms, possess .223 weapons, and ' have the capability of using them.” BECOME ONE OF AMERICA’S HEALTH CARE HEROES Consider a scholarship that helps you bring health care to a community in need. Ever thought about a career that gives you the chance to make a lasting difference in Americas neediest communities? Then think about joining the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and make a commitment to practicing primary care in an underserved area after completing your training. ror JO years, we ve been leading the way to expand access to health care tor vulnerable populations living in the Nations most underserved areas. 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