North Korea Upset By Deal For N-Reactors

The United States and its allies signed a deal Thursday to supply North Korea with new nuclear reactors made by its chief rival, South Korea. The communist North indicated it would reject them.

The deal to finance and build two 1,000-megawatt light-water reactors worth $4 billion is intended to wean reclusive North Korea from a nuclear program suspected of developing atomic weapons.

North Korea agreed Oct. 21 to phase out its nuclear program in return for a U.S. offer of improved ties and help in providing the new reactors.

South Korea has offered to foot most of the bill - provided its companies supply the reactors. South Korea also sees the reactor deal as a possible way to promote political talks with North Korea.

U.S. chief negotiator Robert Gallucci reiterated after the signing that there is no alternative to the South Korean reactors.

“It is what we agreed to (with North Korea), and that’s what we plan on doing,” he said.

The October deal had set an April 21 target date for a reactor contract.

As Thursday’s accord approached, North Korea ratcheted up its campaign against the proposal for South Korean-made reactors, calling them unproven. Experts say the real reason, however, is pride.