EXCLUSIVE: North Korea on Another Nuke Test: 'Watch What Happens'

By
DIANE SAWYER
via
October 20, 2006, 9:18 AM ET
2 min read

Oct. 20, 2006 — -- When asked whether his country would perform more nuclear tests in the coming weeks, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan said to "Good Morning America" that the world would have to watch the situation closely.

"I think you can closely watch what happens," North Korea's chief negotiator at the six-party talks told Diane Sawyer today.

"I don't think that's an answer," Sawyer said.

"I think that's a good answer," Kim said. "We've not said there'd be another test. Others have said that."

The minister pointed out that the United States conducted hundreds of nuclear tests in its history.

Violation of Previous Agreement?

The Bush administration contends that North Korea violated the agreement made with the Clinton administration, enriching uranium when North Korean officials said they wouldn't.

Kim denied this, saying that the country does not have enriched uranium. Instead, he said, the country has plenty of plutonium.

"So if there is new agreement, North Korea can be trusted?" Sawyer asked.

"I think you can," he said.

ABC News also asked whether reports that North Korea had enough plutonium to make 11 bombs were correct.

"Tough question," Kim said. "[I] don't think I can satisfy you. … That's military information."

Different Situations in Each Country, Different Realities

Kim responded calmly to questions about Kim Jong Il's reaction to China and Russia's support for sanctions against North Korea.

"We have different situations in each country, different realities," he said. "We can have different policies. We're not that surprised. … Kim Jong Il has been saying all along in his words that there's no reason North Korea should remain an enemy of the United States."

Kim told ABC News that he had a message for the American people: There are no eternal enemies or friends in life, only eternal interests.

He said he hoped that the United States and North Korea could be friends based on interests.

Kim also encouraged Americans to push the Bush administration to act reasonably to improve relations, which he said would allow President Bush to be viewed as a good president in history, as a president who achieved piece.