BY MAURICE WILLIAMS
The Japanese government announced September 1 that it was
suspending discussions on establishing diplomatic relations
with north Korea, as well as halting food aid to the country.
Tokyo is backing away from a 1994 accord under which it pledged
$1 billion toward a project to build two light-water nuclear
power plants in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK).
Under the accord, the DPRK agreed to allow international inspection of its nuclear facilities in exchange for the two power plants and a promise by the U.S. government to provide billions of dollars in humanitarian aid. The agreement also include a framework calling for Washington to lift the economic sanctions it has imposed on the Korean people and delivering 500,000 metric tons of fuel oil to north Korea until the two power plants have been constructed.
The Japanese government made its announcement the day after Pyongyang launched a two-stage ballistic missile across Japan and several days after Washington claimed the DPRK was secretly building an underground nuclear facility.
Clinton administration officials admitted that no construction had begun on the supposed plant. Meanwhile, Tokyo stated that it would continue to research a ballistic missile project proposed by Washington.