Two children attend a candlelight protest against the United States near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The South Korean President-elect Roh Moo-hyun encouraged the U.S. to negotiate with North Korea about nuclear weapons. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

North Korea and the U.S. Close to Settling their Differences 

War appears less likely

The United States and North Korea seemed to be close to settling their differences.  The possible break in the dispute came in the middle of January. Earlier, both nations had made angry statements.  The U.S. threatened to take military action to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.

President George Bush said January 14 that he might help North Korea with its energy and food needs. But he said the Asian nation would have to stop developing nuclear weapons.

Bush also said he would not negotiate or reward North Korea for “bad behavior.”  White House officials said Bush made the offer because he wants to avoid going to war with North Korea. Bush said he expected the issue to be settled peacefully. He also said he expects North Korea not to develop nuclear weapons.

The two nations began arguing last fall. At that time, the U.S. said North Korea confirmed it had been secretly building nuclear weapons. But early this year North Korea said it never confirmed that. North Korea had signed an agreement in 1994 not to develop nuclear weapons.

Bush cut off shipments of fuel oil to North Korea last fall. After that, North Korea took steps to re-start a nuclear facility. North Korea said it needed to operate the plant to produce electricity. 

N. Korea says cutting aid is an act of war

The Bush administration warned North Korea not to produce nuclear weapons from fuel at the plant. North Korea said it planned to use the nuclear facility only for peaceful measures.  But North Korea also said it would consider the cut off of aid to be an act of war. It warned that the U.S. would be destroyed if the nations went to war. The Bush administration has said the recent tensions would not cause it to stop sending food aid.

Tensions increased as both nations made strong statements about the situation. Tensions also increased between the U.S. and South Korea.

The Korean Peninsula was divided into two countries in the 1950s after a war.   North Korea became a communist country. North Korea has little contact with other nations. It has a population of about 22 million.

North Korea also is considered to be a very poor nation.  Shortages of food and fuel are believed to be a problem in North Korea. But the country’s leaders do not let the rest of the world know what is happening in their nation. 

A border divides the two Koreas

A border divides the two Koreas.  Soldiers from both nations guard the border. About 37,000 American soldiers are also stationed in South Korea.  The American troops have become an issue in recent years. Many South Koreans want the U.S. troops to leave. They say the troops are not needed because North Korea is no longer a threat to South Korea.

The situation in North Korea is different from Bush’s stand on Iraq. Bush has said Iraq must give up its weapons of mass destruction. Bush has said he would order American troops to attack if Iraq does not agree to give up the weapons.

Inspectors from the United Nations have been working in Iraq since late last year. They are looking for banned weapons. Their supervisor said in early January that another year might be needed to finish the inspections. Iraqi officials deny their country has weapons of mass destruction. Bush and his aides said North Korea was beginning to take steps to create nuclear weapons. Such weapons could kill thousands and even millions of people.