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Kang Sok-ju, Nuclear Negotiator for North Korea, Dies at 76 Kang Sok-ju, Key Nuclear Negotiator for North Korea, Dies at 76
(about 13 hours later)
Kang Sok-ju, a key architect of North Korea’s nuclear diplomacy who haggled with United States negotiators, once by quoting from a favorite American book, died on Friday. He was 76.Kang Sok-ju, a key architect of North Korea’s nuclear diplomacy who haggled with United States negotiators, once by quoting from a favorite American book, died on Friday. He was 76.
The cause was esophageal cancer, the North Korean government said in a statement. The statement did not say where he had died.The cause was esophageal cancer, the North Korean government said in a statement. The statement did not say where he had died.
Mr. Kang had been absent from state functions since last summer.Mr. Kang had been absent from state functions since last summer.
In what was apparently an attempt to drive home his country’s determination to develop nuclear weapons, no matter what the United States said, Mr. Kang once told American negotiators that he would quote from the novel “Gone With the Wind.” He said slowly in English, “The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.”In what was apparently an attempt to drive home his country’s determination to develop nuclear weapons, no matter what the United States said, Mr. Kang once told American negotiators that he would quote from the novel “Gone With the Wind.” He said slowly in English, “The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.”
Mr. Kang, the most trusted foreign policy aide of Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s leader from 1994 until his death in 2011 and the father of the current leader, Kim Jong-un, was best known for the “agreement framework,” which he negotiated with the United States in 1994 when he was North Korea’s vice foreign minister.Mr. Kang, the most trusted foreign policy aide of Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s leader from 1994 until his death in 2011 and the father of the current leader, Kim Jong-un, was best known for the “agreement framework,” which he negotiated with the United States in 1994 when he was North Korea’s vice foreign minister.
Under that deal, North Korea agreed to suspend activity at its Yongbyon nuclear site in return for fuel shipments and the construction of two light-water nuclear power reactors. The agreement was hailed as a breakthrough, and some still credit it with slowing North Korea’s nuclear weapons development for a time.Under that deal, North Korea agreed to suspend activity at its Yongbyon nuclear site in return for fuel shipments and the construction of two light-water nuclear power reactors. The agreement was hailed as a breakthrough, and some still credit it with slowing North Korea’s nuclear weapons development for a time.
But the deal fell apart in 2002 when the United States accused the North of cheating on its terms by secretly pursuing uranium enrichment. James A. Kelly, then the American envoy, visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, to confront Mr. Kang with this accusation.But the deal fell apart in 2002 when the United States accused the North of cheating on its terms by secretly pursuing uranium enrichment. James A. Kelly, then the American envoy, visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, to confront Mr. Kang with this accusation.
The framework was the first in a series of short-lived accords the United States has struck with North Korea in failed efforts to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Critics of North Korea now say that the country never intended to give up its nuclear program, and that it used the deals to win temporary economic incentives while buying time to develop nuclear weapons.The framework was the first in a series of short-lived accords the United States has struck with North Korea in failed efforts to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Critics of North Korea now say that the country never intended to give up its nuclear program, and that it used the deals to win temporary economic incentives while buying time to develop nuclear weapons.
Mr. Kang, a career diplomat with more experience in the West than most in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, was self-assured but could turn prickly, bombastic and sarcastic, especially when he was tired, according to “The Two Koreas,” by Don Oberdorfer and Robert Carlin. He was also a loyalist who began his negotiations with the Americans with a lengthy paean to the glories of Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s founding president and the grandfather of the current leader.Mr. Kang, a career diplomat with more experience in the West than most in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, was self-assured but could turn prickly, bombastic and sarcastic, especially when he was tired, according to “The Two Koreas,” by Don Oberdorfer and Robert Carlin. He was also a loyalist who began his negotiations with the Americans with a lengthy paean to the glories of Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s founding president and the grandfather of the current leader.
North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests since 2006, the most recent in January. The United States responded by rallying international support to impose United Nations sanctions against the country. It insists that it will not engage North Korea in serious dialogue again until it volunteers credible assurances that such negotiations will lead to its denuclearization.North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests since 2006, the most recent in January. The United States responded by rallying international support to impose United Nations sanctions against the country. It insists that it will not engage North Korea in serious dialogue again until it volunteers credible assurances that such negotiations will lead to its denuclearization.
But this month, when the North’s ruling Workers’ Party held its first congress in 36 years, the country adopted the expansion of its nuclear arsenal as a key national policy goal. It also declared that it was a nuclear power and would deal with the United States as such.But this month, when the North’s ruling Workers’ Party held its first congress in 36 years, the country adopted the expansion of its nuclear arsenal as a key national policy goal. It also declared that it was a nuclear power and would deal with the United States as such.
In that meeting, Mr. Kang retained his membership on the party’s Central Committee but lost his seat on its Politburo and his title as party secretary. Ri Su-yong, who has served as foreign minister under Kim Jong-un, moved into the Politburo, apparently replacing Mr. Kang as the country’s top foreign policy official.In that meeting, Mr. Kang retained his membership on the party’s Central Committee but lost his seat on its Politburo and his title as party secretary. Ri Su-yong, who has served as foreign minister under Kim Jong-un, moved into the Politburo, apparently replacing Mr. Kang as the country’s top foreign policy official.
Mr. Kang was born to a “poor worker family” on Aug. 29, 1939, according to the North Korean government. No information on survivors was provided.Mr. Kang was born to a “poor worker family” on Aug. 29, 1939, according to the North Korean government. No information on survivors was provided.