RP regrets Nokor’s expulsion of UN inspectors

The government yesterday said it regretted North Korea’s decision to expel UN nuclear inspectors, and urged governments in the region to pressure Pyongyang to stop its nuclear activities.

"Removing the remaining semblance of credible international monitoring over the DPRK’s (North Korea’s) nuclear facilities is trully regrettable," Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said in a statement.

Energy-starved North Korea said on Dec. 12 it was restarting the five-megawatt Yongbyon reasearch reactor to produce electricity.

Its drive to activate nuclear facilities that could be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium has sparked anxiety and condemnation from the international community.

Pyongyang also ordered the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to leave the country after the agency had been monitoring its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon, 100 kilometers north of the capital, Pyongyang, for eight years. Two of the inspectors arrived in Beijing Tuesday.

Manila, however, remained hopeful that North Korea is still open to sincere and peaceful dialogue to resolve the crisis over its nuclear ambitions.

"I am hopeful, with the support of the states in the region, we can move away from the nuclear brink," Ople said. "The Philippines is also prepared to do all it can as a member of the IAEA board of governors to help resolve this issue," Ople said.

Ople urged member states to seize the opportunity for a dialogue and diplomacy with the North Koreans.

Reports also disclosed US State Secretary Colin Powell is intent on seeking a diplomatic solution to the DPRK nuclear issue and that the US is "looking for ways to communicate with the North Koreans." – with AFP