By Reuben Staines
Staff Reporter


South Korea is confident the North Korean nuclear disarmament agreement reached in Beijing on Monday can be implemented despite a lingering dispute between Pyongyang and Washington over the sequencing of the deal.

President Roh Moo-hyun told a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that Seoul will seek to mediate the difference of opinion, which hinges on Pyongyang’s demand for the construction of a light-water nuclear reactor in the North to help meet its energy needs.

``South Korea will have to play a proper role between the United States and North Korea to resolve the issue as the two main parties are engaged in a tug-of-war,’’ Roh said.

Roh also ordered his Cabinet to start preparing a comprehensive economic development plan to rebuild the North’s infrastructure as a resolution to the nuclear issue appeared to be on the horizon.

His comments came after North Korea announced it will not allow the return of international inspectors to verify it has scrapped its nuclear weapons programs until after getting the light-water reactor, which would be built by the U.S. and other nations.

Washington, however, quickly dismissed this, saying the U.S. will only provide the reactor after the North honors its end of the bargain.

The renewed disagreement, just one day after the breakthrough joint statement was signed in Beijing, roused skepticism that the six nations involved in the nuclear negotiations will struggle to implement the framework.

Experts said the vague wording of the Beijing agreement, which stipulated that the six parties will discuss the provision of the light-water reactor at ``an appropriate time,’’ is likely to be the subject of further conflict.

A top official at the Seoul’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said Pyongyang should drop its insistence on getting the reactor first, describing it as ``unrealistic.’’

Meanwhile, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed hope that the U.S. and North Korea can reach a compromise.

``Now that the agreement in Beijing has been reached, I think all difficulties can be overcome,’’ he told a luncheon meeting in Seoul attended by political editors from local media outlets.

Seoul’s point man on North Korean affairs said South Korea will play a central role in ensuring the negotiations progress.

``While there are some shortcomings in the Beijing agreement, it is a broad framework,’’ Chung said. ``Now a detailed roadmap for the denuclearization will be produced and implemented.’’

He also said South Korea will review its offer to supply 2 million kilowatts of electricity to the North in light of Monday’s agreement. The electricity incentive was originally offered as an alternative to the light-water reactor, but the North insisted on keeping control of its energy supply.

North Korea’s statement Tuesday swiftly cut down hopes that the protracted nuclear crisis was nearing resolution.

The nuclear dispute has dragged on for nearly three years, and the most recent round of talks spread out over two sessions lasting more than 20 days. The next round of talks are due in early November.

The North’s Foreign Ministry called on the U.S. to move quickly to provide the light-water reactor and prove that it recognizes the communist country’s right to develop nuclear energy.

``Should the U.S. again insist on the DPRK’s dismantlement of nuclear weapons before the provision of light-water reactors, there will be no change in the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the U.S. and its consequences will be very serious and complicated,’’ it warned, using an acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

rjs@koreaimes.co.kr