U.S. Reviews on Sending North Korea’s Nuclear Issue to U.N. Security Council

The U.S. government is now considering whether or not to forward North Korea’s nuclear problem to the U.N. Security Council if North Korea does not show any intention of abandoning its nuclear ambition at an earlier date, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported from Washington on December 6.

As the plan for opening six-way talks over North’s nuclear program within the year became obscure, the United States is reportedly sending a message of restraining North Korea for fear that the North may try to strengthen its nuclear development by making use of delayed meeting schedule.

A U.S. high ranking official pointed out the differed viewpoints between the nations attending the talks and said, “The prospect of solving the nuclear problems looks cloudy even though the meeting will be postponed to January or February of next year.” He said that the U.N. Security Council wll make the last decision if the six-way talks is not constructive enough, reported the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com