U.S. Eases N. Korea Sanctions, Remains Concerned over Human Rights
President Bush said Thursday he plans to call for the removal of North Korea from a U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism after receiving news that the rogue government has handed over its long-awaited nuclear program declaration.
North Korea gave documents describing its nuclear activities to officials from China, which is leading the six-nation talks, earlier on Thursday, according to CNN. The declaration provides information on the amount of plutonium North Korea has produced, which can be used to calculate the extent of the proliferation of its nuclear technology.
"This can be a moment of opportunity for North Korea," said Bush, announcing the declaration at the White House. "If it continues to make the right choices it can repair its relationship with the international community."
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Bush said that although he plans to ease U.S. sanctions against the reclusive state, in reality it will have little effect.
"The sanctions that North Korea faces for its human rights violations, nuclear test in 2006 and weapons proliferation will all stay in effect. All United Nations Security Council sanctions will stay in effect as well," he stated.
"The United States has no illusions about the regime in Pyongyang," Bush said. "We remain deeply concerned about North Korea's human rights abuses, uranium enrichment activities, nuclear testing and proliferation, ballistic missile programs and the threat it continues to pose to South Korea and its neighbors.
"Yet we welcome today's development as one step of a multi-step process."
North Korea has continuously topped human rights abuse lists, including those for Christian persecution.
Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have fled to China to escape starvation, oppression, and economic hardship. Citizens that are forcibly returned by Chinese police face imprisonment, torture and even death for leaving the country – a state crime.
All religions other than a personality cult that revolves around worshipping the current dictator and his deceased father are banned. Being discovered a Christian in North Korea is one of the worst crimes. Believers have been publicly executed to serve as a warning to others to not become a Christian.
North Korea is expected to continue dismantling its nuclear reactor in its reluctant effort to join the international community and expand its economy like its communist ally China.
