-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! US not offering North Korea no-first-strike pledge: Cohen WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (AFP) - The United States is looking for ways to reduce tensions with North Korea, but is not offering Pyongyang a no-first-strike pledge, US Defense Secretary William Cohen said Thursday. In Seoul, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Jang Jai-Ryong told AFP a no-strike pledge was proposed by former US defense secretary William Perry and discussions were underway between Seoul and Washington on "what form such assurance might take." "I have not seen any indication of a no-first-strike pledge being offered by anyone," Cohen told reporters here when asked if it was under consideration. "I know Dr. Perry and others have tried to formulate ways in which tensions can be reduced on the Korean peninsula. But I can assure you that we would take no step that would in any way jeopardize the security of our troops in Korea," Cohen said. "So all I can tell you is that we're looking at ways to reduce tensions but we will not in any way compromise the security of our forces there," he said. Perry, who was asked to coordinate US policy on North Korea, has recommended that the US administration improve its relations with the world's most isolated regime after decades of hostility. The Korea Herald quoted a senior US diplomat as saying that Washington may give North Korea a pledge that it will not attack the country. "The assurance is part of a package. But this remains to be discussed first," the unnamed US diplomat was quoted as saying. The diplomat said the issue would be discussed during talks in Berlin from November 15 between US special envoy on Korean affairs Charles Kartman and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye-Gwan. The US diplomat said that concrete measures for the assurance are likely to be discussed when Washington and Pyongyang open a high-level meeting aimed at improving relations. The daily quoted the US diplomat as saying the Kartman-Kim meeting, the second in three months, would focus on arrangements for the high-level meeting. Seoul's Yonhap News Agency earlier quoted diplomatic sources as saying Washington may promise not to attack Pyongyang with missiles in return for North Korea's permanent freeze on missile development. In the previous talks in September, the United States agreed to ease its 50-year-old sanctions against North Korea. In return, Pyongyang declared a moratorium on its long-range missile launch. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
