U.S. says N. Korea must dismantle nukes

A satellite image of a suspected North Korean nuclear facility

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RELATED Special Report: The two Koreas  Inside out: How North Korea sees the world  • Complete text: North Korea's statement on U.S. relations  • Interactive: Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What  N. Korea nuclear facts North Korea launched a medium-range "test" missile over Japan in 1998. The 1994 Agreed Framework was signed by North Korea with the Clinton administration. In return, an international consortium is building new nuclear reactors in North Korea.

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) -- The Bush Administration is interested in nothing less than dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer has said, responding to reports that North Korea wanted to open talks with the United States about its program.

Last month, Pyongyang admitted it had a clandestine weapons program, in violation of a 1994 agreement with the United States.

"North Korea knows what it needs to do," Fleischer said Sunday. "It needs to dismantle its nuclear program and honor its treaty obligations."

Last week, the North Koreans said the crisis spawned over its nuclear program could be settled if the United States were to back off from its "hostile policy" toward them.

"[If] the U.S. legally confirms its non-aggressive disposition through a pact on non-aggression, including the obligation not to use nuclear weapons, we will also be prepared to dispel American concerns in the security sphere," North Korean Ambassador to Russia Pak Ui Chun said.

But the first concrete step the administration wants to see from North Korea, Fleischer said, is "dismantlement of its nuclear program."

"North Korea should not have abandoned its obligations, and that's what they've done," he said.

"Make no mistake, North Korea entered into an agreement, said that they would abandon a nuclear development program in return for work that was done on the nuclear power reactors."

That work took place, Fleischer said, "but North Korea gave its word and didn't keep it. North Korea needs to keep its word."

In 1994, North Korea agreed to freeze an earlier nuclear program. In return, the United States promised to provide fuel oil and build two safer nuclear reactors.

But the oil deliveries were frequently delayed, and work on the reactor site is years behind schedule.

North Korea claims it was Washington that violated agreements, not Pyongyang.

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