Word: yongbyon
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Still, the optimism born of the last talks in August, when the U.S. thought + it had resolved several key disputes, has dissipated. Pyongyang had agreed to replace its suspect gas-graphite reactor at Yongbyon and two larger ones under construction with two light-water reactors that would generate far less plutonium that could be used in bombs. The U.S. had promised its allies would pay most of the $4 billion price...
...path was cleared by three promises from the North Koreans. In a letter to Washington they pledged they would not extract the plutonium -- enough for four or five atom bombs -- from the 8,000 fuel rods they removed from their nuclear reactor at Yongbyon earlier this month. They will not reload the 5-MW reactor with new fuel rods. And they will allow international inspectors to remain on duty to verify those promises. "This does not solve the problem," Clinton said, "but it certainly gives us the basis for seeking a solution." To pursue it, the two sides will...
Carter claimed a diplomatic breakthrough, reporting that North Korea would allow international inspectors to remain at the main nuclear installation in Yongbyon while "good-faith efforts" toward a settlement were resumed with the U.S. As the television cameras rolled, Carter told Kim the U.S. would suspend its effort to impose economic sanctions on North Korea...
...Administration is prepared to go back to serious talks -- if the North Koreans will first freeze their nuclear program. That means, explained Vice President Gore, they must not extract plutonium from the 8,000 fuel rods they have just removed from their 5-MW reactor at Yongbyon; they must not put new fuel rods into the reactor; they must keep the IAEA inspectors on duty "and allow them to function...
...does believe confrontation might ultimately be required, he can build global support only by trying every possible diplomatic step short of that. Possibly he has simply not thought it through. A pause now does not cost Washington any more than it costs Pyongyang. But if the fuel rods in Yongbyon begin to yield up their plutonium, Clinton could be forced to decide exactly how tough he will...