U.S. Urges N. Korea To Cease Nuke Threats

Meanwhile, North Korea Expels International Nuclear Inspectors, Announced It's Reactivating Nuclear Facilities

(CBS/AP)  The White House is urging North Korea to "cease its provocative threats" and respect the will of the rest of the world by honoring its international commitments, according to presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs.

He said North Korea's vow to restart its nuclear reactor and boycott international disarmament talks is a serious step in the wrong direction. North Korea is retaliating for the U.N. Security Council's condemnation of its recent rocket launch.

Gibbs said the international community will not accept North Korea unless it abandons what the White House says is its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

As Gibbs spoke, the International Atomic Energy Agency said North Korea is expelling its inspectors and has announced it is reactivating all its nuclear facilities.

An IAEA statement Tuesday said North Korea has told inspectors to remove seals and cameras from the Yongbyon nuclear site and leave the country as quickly as possible.

The moves reflect anger at U.N. Security Council criticism of the country's latest missile launch.

"As the international community feared, North Korea reacted angrily to this week's Security Council condemnation and decision to tighten existing sanctions," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk from the U.N., "and while the U.S. and Japan worked to specify the sanctions, Russia urged North Korea to reconsider its reaction and China called for calm."

Earlier Tuesday, North Korea vowed to bolster its nuclear deterrent and boycott six-party talks aimed at its denuclearization in protest of a U.N. Security Council statement condemning the country's recent rocket launch.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it "resolutely condemns" the action by the United Nations, which it said "rampantly" infringes upon the country's sovereignty and "severely debases" the people's dignity.

"We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces," the statement said.

The statement also said that "six-party talks that we are taking part in are not necessary any more."

Those negotiations, which also involve China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States, began in 2003 and have been aimed at achieving North Korea's denuclearization.

The North also said it will restore nuclear facilities it has been disabling in line with an international disarmament-for-aid deal negotiated under the six-party process and resume operating them.

The statement was the country's first reaction to the Security Council's unanimous condemnation Monday over the April 5 rocket launch, which Pyongyang says sent a satellite into space but critics say tested long-range missile technology.

The Security Council demanded an end to missile tests and said it will expand sanctions against the reclusive communist nation.

The council's statement, agreed on by all 15 members and read at a formal meeting of the United Nations' most powerful body, said the launch violated a council resolution adopted after the North conducted a nuclear test explosion in 2006 that banned any missile tests by the country.

The statement was a weaker response than a U.N. resolution, which had been sought by Japan and the United States but was opposed by China and Russia. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice insisted the statement is legally binding, just like a resolution - a view backed by Russia - but other diplomats and officials disagreed.

In a statement released by the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration welcomed the "clear and united message" from the U.N.

"The United States will continue working with our allies and partners in the Six-Party Talks to achieve the verifiable elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the reduction of tensions on the Korean Peninsula," said Gibbs.

North Korea had threatened last month that any criticism by the U.N. Security Council over the launch would result in the end of the six-party talks.

[factsearcher]

"We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces," the statement said.

Yeah yeah yeah...NK had no choice! As if they where EVER considering retracting from the nuclear development.
Who in the world believes this????
For what I can see and read ... on the UN believe in what NK or Iran say.

And the worst of all....NK and Iran already had their meeting, shared intelligence and technology and BOTH countries are developing, building and future launching!

And the world sit still!!!

Israel...Just do it!!

[TheMasses01]

NK gets a free pass with the Commie POTUS. Many over there are extremist Muslums just like Soetoro. Attend a tea party TODAY!!!!!

[stn_sage]

I don't believe the North Korean government has ever negotiated with the United States in good faith, regardless of what party controlled the White House or Congress!

Such a course of action, might be beyond their capacity to do. As, their real, true goal is the re-unification of north and south; until then, negotiating with them will be like trying to nail Jello to the wall---it ain't going to happen!

[pepperwood2]

The UN said something. Lets look for it to be ignored like it always has been.

This is not the time to get down on our UN. After all they're in the process of doing a billion dollar headquarter make over. In times like these when the rest of the World is struggling to make do with what we have, the UN pulls out a miracle and comes up with a billion dollars or so to improve their living conditions. Pretty slick trick.

Yes they do say something $$$$$$ once in a while. Dues are going to go up is another one.

[pepperwood2]

The White House on Tuesday urged North Korea to "cease its provocative threats."

OK give us a hint? Who was it that was demanding that NK stop these threats? If they don't settle down you know what that means? Our smart SOS is going to have to go back over and when Hilary talks they will listen. Then laugh and continue with their threats, innuendos & demands. Besides shes either out fund raising or trying pull off getting Bill a date for $$$$$$ donations. Pretty slick trick!

[xmissile]

Why is it that articles like this draw out all the warmongers who probably have never served but don't mind sending other people's sons and daughters to the eastern front? Oh yeah, I'm so tired of the nuke 'em all line...please it's so cliche. How bout some original humor.

The world is beginning to view the US as a spoiled rotten, yapping little dog. North Korea
other countries make some stupid comment, and the US does it's angry chihuaha routine
over and over, what has this accomplished over the years. If your not going to turn their
missile program into a crater, then shut the hell up, and ignore them. Go argue with someone
who "went off their medication", it does about as much good.

[raigeki15]

This is a time that The United States NEEDS to go to WAR with North Korea. We need to take the Troops out of Iraq & Afghanistan & send them all to North Korea to go to War with North Korea. The United States needs a Serious Victory & win.
Posted by souljam76 at 2:47 PM : Apr 14, 2009

You have absolutely no idea how serious of a mess the US could get into if it goes to war with NK. While it is probable that the US (and other allies) would win, they would also suffer significant losses. What they lack in technology will be made up by their intense pride and zeal for war. What the world needs to do is wait until Kim Jong Il dies. As long as he is in power, the DPRK will remain the same. At least if he dies, then there might be some sort of internal power struggle which will destabilize the region. Only this kind of conflict is needed that would bring about the country's collapse, not external forces.

[TheStolenGiraffe]

Let?s just eliminate North Korea now. It should only take about 30 seconds and then we?ll be done with them. Problem solved!

Posted by burtwoody at 2:58 PM : Apr 14, 2009

Yea and thats the exact type of thinking we used when we went into Iraq...you see how well that worked out.

[mainermike]

Welcome to AS I SEE IT, by Mike "Mainer Mike" Brown, With The Most Comprehensive Commentary Your Day Can't Do Without.

The United States can say all it wants to North Korea, but there is little we can do.

The American public is so fed up with how things have panned out in Iraq that they would never give the green light to the government to attack, even though Pyongyang is a true threat.

Europe won't do anything about it either, as they don't want to get into the same mess the U.S. got itself into with the War on Terror.

And who knows about Russia and China.

North Korea's has us right where they want us, and they know it.

If only we hadn't attacked Iraq, who wasn't nearly as much of a threat as North Korea, the American people would be more willing to do something about this crisis.

Man, that George Bush was a terrible president, and we're going to continue to pay.

That's AS I SEE IT. I'm Mike "Mainer Mike" Brown.

Agree or disagree with my views? I'd like to read your opinion.