U.S. reassures North Korea on sovereignty (Direct talks OK now too)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5768117&cKey=1115674516000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States sought to coax North Korea back to the negotiating table on Monday by saying it viewed the communist nation as sovereign and would hold direct talks as part of six-party nuclear discussions.

U.S. officials have said this before, but repeating the positions was significant one day after North Korea said it wanted clarification on both points before deciding whether to resume talks about ending its suspected nuclear arms programs.

Chinese and South Korean leaders over the weekend called for resolving the matter through peaceful dialogue following a report last week that some U.S. officials believe North Korea may be preparing for a nuclear test. snip

"The United States, of course, recognises that North Korea is sovereign," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told CNN in an interview in Moscow, echoing a statement she first made in March during visit to Japan, China and South Korea. snip

U.S. State Department official suggested Washington wanted to send a conciliatory signal.

more

Bush will be selling F-16s to them as a gesture of his good will before this is all over with. At cut rate prices too. And they will still have their nuclear weapons just in case.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Do I smell a flip flop?

What happened to all those reports this weekend about NK having 5-6 nukes? Somebody must have told Condi that she can't start anymore wars with Bush's Army. They're all used up.

[Jacobin]

12. no no no no, this was merely a flop flip

which is ENTIRELY different.

:-)

[Bandit]

13. Direct Talks is a HUGE Flip Flop

Before this Bush* would not lower himself (Amerika) to even talk to them.

[Roland99]

2. Kim Jong Il just wants attention and now he's getting it

[doodadem]

3. Direct talks?

Time to send Bolton in. His "plain speaking" will surely save the day.

[0007]

5. .....we indeed need a smooth talking sonofabitch like Bolton

to piss off North Korea again, eh?

[Inland]

4. Three years and six atomic bombs later, Bush climbs down.

What a dick.

[warrens]

6. "Say you solly." "I'm sorry." "Say you velly solly." "I'm very sorry."

Say you velly velly solly with chelly on top." "I'm very, very sorry with a cherry on top."

This punk is such an embarassment. This deal was so simple. They wanted food, we wanted their nukes. Instead of just saying, alright, here's some fucking wheat, now cough up the nukes, these shitheads had to grandstand.

Just like with the spy plane. Just because you're evil geniuses doesn't mean you can't be stupid nazi boneheads at the same time.

[hang a left]

7. I am wondering if anyone knows that the

USS Nimitz was deployed from San Diego on Saturday to points in the Pacific. I wonder what the significance is of this event.

on edit:
USS Nimitz Strike Group Deploys
Story Number: NNS050509-13
Release Date: 5/9/2005 3:10:00 PM



From Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- More than 6,200 Sailors from the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployed from San Diego May 7 to conduct operations in the Central and Western Pacific. The ships will support the global war on terrorism with joint and combined operations and carry out other assignments as directed.

The Nimitz CSG includes Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, Destroyer Squadron 23, the Aegis-equipped guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Higgins (DDG 76) and USS Chafee (DDG 90), the fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), and the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724). All of the ships in the Nimitz CSG are homeported in San Diego, Calif., with the exception of Chafee and Louisville, both homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Bridge, homeported in Bremerton, Wash. Higgins departed May 6.

Nimitz is the flagship for the strike group commander, Rear Adm. Peter Daly, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11. On deployment, Nimitz is also home to Commander, Destroyer Squadron 23, commanded by Capt. Gordan Van Hook, and Carrier Air Wing 11, commanded by Capt. Tom Cropper.

Capt. Ted Branch of Long Beach, Miss., commands Nimitz at the center of the strike group. Nimitz carries approximately 3.5 million gallons of fuel to support more than 70 aircraft and three escort ships, and enough weapons and stores for extended operations without replenishment. The flight deck covers 4.5 acres and looms almost seven stories above the water.


http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18250

[Rex]

8. I've been wondering this for awhile now, who runs NK

Lil Kim or Sun Yung Moon? I mean just THINK about the power Moon has, a North Korean who has been CROWNED the PRINCE OF PEACE returned, in OUR U.S. CONGRESS! Sorry for yelling but I think people need to think about this!

[0007]

9. I thought Kim Jong wanted one on one talks?

[JRob]

10. Any Dems on this?! These contradictions

should be painted red and compared to past positions.

I can still hear Bush's comments about the 6-party talk during the debate.



also on Reuters

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-05-09T212214Z_01_N09694093_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-KOREA-NORTH-DC.XML

[JRob]

11. BUSH "the minute we have bilateral talks, the six-party talks...

...will unwind. That's exactly what Kim Jong Il wants."

[hang a left]

14. kick nt