(Reuters) N.Korea seeks oil in return for halting reactor: media

[Eugene]

N.Korea seeks oil in return for halting reactor: media

Reuters
Saturday, February 3, 2007; 10:34 PM

TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea's top envoy to six-party talks on its nuclear programme
has told former U.S. officials Pyongyang wants more than half a million tonnes of fuel
oil a year in return for suspending its atomic reactor, a Japanese daily said on Sunday.

The demand would exceed the energy assistance North Korea received under an 1994
agreement with Washington, which collapsed when the current nuclear crisis began
in 2002.

-snip-

Kim and other North Korean officials said the country would halt the operation of its
reactor at Yongbyon if it obtained energy assistance equivalent to more than 500,000
tonnes of fuel oil a year, the Asahi said, quoting the two Americans.

North Korean officials also demanded that Washington lift its financial sanctions
against the country as well as removing North Korea from the list of "terrorism-
sponsoring" nations, the daily said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020301739.html

[Ian David]

1. Big mistake. North Korea should have never admitted they have oil.

They're in BIG trouble now!

[Eugene]

2. (AP) U.S.: N.Korea Disarmament May Take Time

Associated Press
U.S.: N.Korea Disarmament May Take Time
By BO-MI LIM 02.04.07, 5:18 AM ET

The main U.S. envoy to North Korea nuclear talks said Sunday the upcoming round
could see agreements on initial steps toward the communist nation's disarmament,
but he cautioned it would take longer for the North to completely give up its
nuclear weapons drive.

"Frankly, we cannot accept anything less than 100 percent implementation of the
September statement," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told
reporters, referring to a 2005 pledge in which the North agreed to give up its
nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

-snip-

"But, the ultimate task for us is to complete denuclearization, not just begin
denuclearization," Hill said.

Hill's comments came after a Japanese news report on Sunday said that North
Korea is prepared to halt operations at a key nuclear facility in exchange for
oil and an easing of U.S. financial restrictions.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/04/ap3392657.html

[ohio2007]

3. This guy has all the oil he needs

I don't see why he couldn't help out the dear leader.

Venezuela Deficit Surges on Record Government Outlays (Update1)

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's budget deficit climbed in the January-through-November period as President Hugo Chavez boosted government spending to a record high amid an oil boom.

<snip>

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=au0I8ekSMcwE&refer=news


geeze,the article also states they are going to run a 25% rate of inflation this year !