Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Kim Jong Il Promises Anything To Get Heating Oil

North Korea agreed to an accord with South Korea, China, Russia, Japan, and the U,S. to terminate the one nuclear reactor it operates within 60 days in return for 50,000 tons (14 million gallons or 340,000 barrels) of fuel oil as a first step in abandoning all nuclear weapons and research programs. Right. And Al Gore isn’t running for president either. Remember how North Korea ignored the 1994 Accord. The current accord also says North Korea will abandon it plutonium fuel reserves (50 kilograms) and nuclear weapons program (6 bombs). North Korea has agreed to accept the return of nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor the reactor and other nuclear installations. Korea exploded a nuclear test device in 2006.

Our guess is that Kim Jong Il needs heating oil for his country to make it through the winter. And he will agree to anything right now to get it. He can always renege this summer. North Korea would receive additional "economic, energy and humanitarian assistance up to the equivalent of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil (286 million gallons or 7 million barrels)." President Bush will have to get Congressional approval for the oil. (Wash Post)

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