North Koreans May Start Nuclear Weapons Inspections of USFK Facilities
South Korea’s top diplomat has indicated that Seoul could review Pyongyang’s possible request for a nuclear inspection of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to verify the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea is subject to the verification process, according to the joint principle statement of the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear programs, which was adopted in Beijing on Sept. 19.
“If the North raises the issue of inspection and verification in the South, including the facilities of the USFK, we will cope with it rationally by utilizing the 1992 inter-Korean joint declaration, which contains the principle of mutual inspection,’’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon told The Korea Times in a written interview, marking the newspaper’s 55th anniversary.
The Joint Declaration of South and North Korea on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, signed on Jan. 20, 1992, articulates that “the two sides will conduct inspections of locations chosen by the other side and agreed upon by both sides.’’
It means the U.S. military installations in South Korea could technically become the target of inspections, if Seoul gives the nod to Pyongyang’s choice of American bases.
This is sure to cause even more tension with Washington if this is to happen. I hoped the South Koreans hired a real good PR team because they are going to need it if they try to pull this off.
Hopefully the North Koreans don’t pull up in a taxi because someone may accidently jump on top of it.
