South Korea Sceptical On Nuclear Deal

NUKEWARS

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Jang-soo.<br><br><b>South Korea calls for closer defence ties with France<br></b>Seoul (AFP) March 18 - South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun called Sunday for closer defence ties with France at his meeting with visiting French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie. At the meeting, Roh said the two countries should step up efforts to boost military cooperation, his office said in a statement. Roh and Alliot-Marie also discussed regional security such as North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and inter-Korean relations, it said. Alliot-Marie, who arrived here Friday, expressed hope that her visit would promote

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Jang-soo.

South Korea calls for closer defence ties with France
Seoul (AFP) March 18 - South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun called Sunday for closer defence ties with France at his meeting with visiting French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie. At the meeting, Roh said the two countries should step up efforts to boost military cooperation, his office said in a statement. Roh and Alliot-Marie also discussed regional security such as North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and inter-Korean relations, it said. Alliot-Marie, who arrived here Friday, expressed hope that her visit would promote "military exchanges and cooperation in defence industries" between the two countries, it said. The French minister visited Panmunjon, a truce village in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, before departing for China on the last leg of her tour of Northeast Asia.

by Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) March 16, 2007
South Korean Defence Minister Kim Jang-soo expressed "scepticism" over the North Korean nuclear deal, his visiting French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie said after a meeting here Friday. "I found him sceptical on the chances to really arrive at results with the North Koreans," Alliot-Marie told reporters. She noted however that it was "not necessarily the attitude of the whole South Korean government of which certain members are probably more optimistic."

The French minister's visit comes at the time of intense efforts to implement an agreement signed in Beijing on February 13 under which Pyongyang promised to begin dismantling its nuclear programme within two months in exchange for energy aid and diplomatic concessions.

A new series of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme is due to start on Monday in the Chinese capital.

According to Alliot-Marie's entourage, Kim asserted that there was "not much confidence between the two Koreas" who therefore "need time."

Touching on this issue and the rising might of the Chinese military, whose budget will increase by nearly 18 percent to about 45 billion dollars this year, the French minister indicated that her South Korean counterpart had insisted on the need to establish "transparency and confidence."

"It is normal that a country as large as China is preoccupied with having an army of this strength," Alliot-Marie said, repeating her call for "transparency" so "there are no suspicions over the Chinese intentions and that this goes in the direction of peace".

The minister, who arrived Friday in Seoul from Japan, is also due to meet South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who favours reconciliation with the North.

She will also visit Panmunjon, in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas before departing on Sunday for China on the last leg of her tour of Northeast Asia.

Source: Agence France-Presse

SUPERPOWERS Germany Fears US Anti-Missile Shield Could Fuel 'New Arms Race' Growing US Military Concerns For China India Developing News Alliances EU Bickers Over Birthday Card Message	NUKEWARS Iran Develops New Air Defence System US Upbeat On Korea As North Says Nuke Plant Shutdown Soon Japan Says Solid Security Needed To Counter North Korean Threat South Korea Sceptical On Nuclear Deal
MISSILE NEWS Raytheon To Enhance Patriot Global Capabilities Under Pure Fleet Contract Excalibur Completes Final Testing Clearing Path For Early Fielding LockMart Unveils New Four-Mode Guidance Ground Launched Precision Strike Missile New Hellfire-Compatible Guided Rocket Can Defeat Targets In Urban Operations	MISSILE DEFENSE US Missile Scheme Hurts Ties With Russia Russia Will Be Able To Evade US ABM System US Missile Chief Briefs Ukraine On Shield Plans US Missile Defenses Performed Well In North Korea Crisis Claims Boeing
AEROSPACE Germans Urged To Give Foreign Travel A Rest To Curb Global Warming Raytheon Team Proposes Single International Standard In ADS-B Pursuit NASA Signs Defense Department Agreement Lockheed Martin And FAA Reach Significant Milestone In Transformation Of Flight Services	UAV NEWS Northrop Grumman Gets 287 Million Dollar Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Systems Contract Boeing Prepares First US Military ScanEagle Crews Israeli Air Force Unveils Long-Range Drone New Technology Expands Air Force Combat Capability
IRAQ WARS US Rogue State U-Turn Iraq Surge Successes And Setbacks Does The Surge Needs Sadr Washington Dodgers	MILTECH Key Phase Of New B-2 Bomber Communication System To Begin Raytheon Mid-Range Munition Projectile Scores Direct Hit Against T-72 Tank Future Combat System Faces Tough Times South Korea Unveils Underwater Tank

The contents herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2005 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy statement