US Has No Plans to Attack DPRK: Powell

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 30, 2002

US Has No Plans to Attack DPRK: Powell

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US Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterated Sunday that the United States has no plans to attack the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) despite tensions over the DPRK's nuclear issue have escalated over the past week.

"Nobody's going to attack North Korea. We have no plans to attack North Korea. We've said it repeatedly. The president has said it repeatedly," Powell said in an interview with ABC television.

The secretary, however, did not rule out military options completely. "Of course, all tools are available to the president and to the international community," he said.

"Military action is always an option, but it is not an option that is in the forefront of our thinking right now because it doesn't seem necessary or appropriate," he said, noting that thereare no forces being put on alert on either side.

Although he described the situation as "very serious," Powell seemed to try to dispel the notion that the current tension over the DPRK's nuclear issue has already amounted to a crisis.

"I think it is grave. But I don't want to create a sense of crisis or that we're on the brink of war, because I don't believe we are," the secretary said.

Asked about US response to the nuclear issue, Powell said the United States is working with its friends and allies and asking them to bring pressure on the DPRK.

"We made it clear that we have no hostile intent toward North Korea and we hope that they will come to their senses and not onlyrestore the inspection regime to the Yongbyon facility, but to endwhat they are doing at this uranium enrichment facility and program that we know they have underway," he said.

Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" program Sunday, Powell saidthe United States is also looking for ways to talk with the DPRK but such talks will be possible only after the DPRK changes its "misbehavior."

"We are looking for ways to communicate with the North Koreans so some sense can prevail," he said. "There are ways for them to talk to us. We know how to get in touch with them," Powell added.

Pyongyang announced on Dec. 23 that because of the suspension of oil supply by the United States, the DPRK has decided to removethe seals and monitoring cameras on the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon in a bid to restart the facilities for generating electricity.

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