North Korea could have the right of nuclear peaceful utilization, said South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young Thursday.

 

"I think North Korea ought to have the right to develop nuclear power plants for peaceful purposes, such as agricultural, medical, and energy-generating ones," said Chung in an interview with MediaDaum, a local Internet news portal.

 

Chung, however, urged North Korea to give up the uncompleted light-water reactors in Shinpo, South Hamkyong Province.

 

"It is a core precondition to Seoul's latest offer of massive energy to North Korea," Chung explained.

 

According to the Agreed Framework signed by the US and North Korea in 1992, the North agreed to seal its nuclear facilities in exchange for energy aid and construction of two light water reactors.

 

The US-led consortium, the Korean Peninsula Energy Development (KEDO), was responsible for the construction work. South Korea is a main member of the organization.

 

However, since the latest nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula occurred in late 2002, the work of building the reactors has been halted.

 

Before the resumption of the fourth-round six-party nuclear talks, South Korea announced it was willing to provide electricity to the North if the latter agrees to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

 

South Korea said it would use the money originally allocated for the construction of light water reactors in the North to build electricity transmission lines linking South and North Korea.

 

Chung, who is also chairman of South Korea's National Security Council, admitted that South Korea and the US have different stances over the North's use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes.

 

Chung stressed that, "Seoul has believed, even before the resumption of six-way talks, that if Pyongyang returns to the non-proliferation treaty and allows the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is qualified to have peaceful nuclear program."

 

The fourth round of six-party talks entered a recess of some three weeks from last Sunday after 13-day negotiations. The six nations -- China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea -- agreed to reopen the talks in the week beginning August 29.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2005)