IAEA Gives North Korea One Last Chance to Abandon Its Nuclear Activities - 2003-01-06

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given North Korea one last chance to abandon its nuclear ambitions and to accept two inspectors that it expelled last week. In an emergency meeting today in Vienna, the IAEA's board of governors urged North Korea to respect its commitments under international nuclear agreements. The agency warned that if Pyongyang fails to comply, the matter will be referred to the United Nations Security Council. Today's resolution from the IAEA did not set a deadline for North Korea's compliance. Prior to the emergency meeting, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei stated that if North Korea expects the international community to consider its security concerns, it must adhere to nuclear safeguards and safety measures. He emphasized that current disputes cannot be linked to threats of nuclear weapon use. ElBaradei noted North Korea's insistence that the United States must guarantee its security in exchange for resolving the North Korean nuclear program issue. Pyongyang has repeatedly accused Washington of planning a nuclear attack against North Korea.