Pro-North Korean paper chides US-India N-deal

A pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan on Wednesday condemned the recent nuclear deal between the United States and India, claiming it gave India "preferential" treatment.

A pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan on Wednesday condemned the recent nuclear deal between the United States and India, claiming it gave India "preferential" treatment by formally recognizing it as a nuclear power despite its failure to sign non-proliferation safeguards.

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Under an agreement reached last week still subject to US Congressional approval, India will open some of its atomic reactors to international inspections, while the US will provide it with nuclear know-how and atomic fuel, even though New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty.

"The Bush administration took a preferential measure to accept India to the 'nuclear club' and recognize (the country) as a sixth nuclear power," the newspaper Choson Sinbo said.

"The ulterior motive is obvious. It's to guard against China by drawing India to its side while at the same time selling nuclear technology and state-of-art weapons to India."

The newspaper reflects North Korean government positions, and sometimes publishes them before they are officially announced by the North.

The newspaper also called the agreement "a fatal diplomatic mistake" that violates the basic framework of the treaty.

North Korea quit the treaty in early 2003, shortly after the United States accused it of having a secret uranium enrichment programme, and has since claimed to have nuclear weapons.