Bush authorises $25m oil aid for N Korea
Sunday, 30 September 2007
WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (AFP): US President George W. Bush has authorized 25 million dollars in energy aid to North Korea in response to Pyongyang's progress in complying with its denuclearization agreement.
The move came yesterday as negotiators in Beijing continued their talks on a timetable for the secretive communist regime to disable all of its nuclear programs this year.
Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said he expected the morning talks Saturday to centre on fuel aid. But he also made a surprise announcement that the talks could wind up in the afternoon, a day ahead of schedule.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the US aid promise was in accordance with the principle of "action for action" under the six-party talks and "demonstrates the US commitment to the denuclearization of the DPRK (North Korea)."
The move came yesterday as negotiators in Beijing continued their talks on a timetable for the secretive communist regime to disable all of its nuclear programs this year.
Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said he expected the morning talks Saturday to centre on fuel aid. But he also made a surprise announcement that the talks could wind up in the afternoon, a day ahead of schedule.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the US aid promise was in accordance with the principle of "action for action" under the six-party talks and "demonstrates the US commitment to the denuclearization of the DPRK (North Korea)."