hankyoreh

In an interview with The Hankyoreh on October 10, a diplomat at the North Korean embassy in China said on condition of anonymity that North Korea had no exit except for a nuclear test. To resume the six-party talks, he said, echoing the North’s official stance of nearly a year, the U.S. should lift financial sanctions against North Korea. But he suggested the U.S., through dialogue, could prevent the North from becoming a de facto nuclear state. The following is a transcript of the question-and-answer session.


Question: Why did North Korea carry out the nuclear test now?

Answer: We thought that this was the most appropriate time. The George W. Bush administration offered us dialogue but it didn’t take any action [to see that dialogue realized]. Under this situation, we couldn’t find any other exit except a nuclear test.

Q: Why did you choose a nuclear test?

A: When we declared that we had nuclear weapons, the U.S. underestimated our abilities and doubted whether or not we really had them. The nuclear test has proven [our word]. [The test] was smaller than expected, but a small success means a larger success is also possible.

Q: Have you prepared additional measures, such as loading nuclear warheads onto missiles?

A: We carried out a nuclear test in order to possess nuclear weapons. It is naturally possible to take additional measures.

Q: What do you think about the six-party talks?

A: It depends on the U.S.’s attitude. To solve the problem, the U.S. should show its intention to have dialogue. If not, we will continue along the same lines. As we have continuously been hit with sanctions, there is no further difficulty possible for us to face.

Q: How do you want the U.S. to behave in order to resume dialogue?

A: Unless the U.S. lifts the financial sanctions against us, we won’t join the six-nation talks. When the U.S. is squeezing our lifeline, there can be no dialogue. We are actually trying to improve relations with the U.S. and trying to join the international community.

Q: Now that North Korea has conducted a nuclear test, relations with China are expected to worsen.

A: As China is a great nation and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, we understand China’s actions. However, China won’t be able to agree with sanctions, nor with military action or a sea-and-air blockade.

Q: How do you expect the U.S. to respond?

A: Internationally, the U.S. is entangled in various problems such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. North Korea’s nuclear test has given a headache to the U.S. In the short term, Iran will gain momentum. To prevent neighboring nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan from arming themselves with nuclear weapons, the U.S. must stop North Korea’s plan to become a nuclear state. To prevent North Korea's nuclear armament, the U.S. has no alternative but to resume dialogue.