'NKorea may look past Bush for nuclear deal'

Seoul, Sept 26: North Korea may wait for the Bush administration to go before implementing a deal to end its atomic ambitions, despite the hardship the wait would bring the impoverished country, a top former US diplomat said today.

North Korea ignored international warnings by test-launching missiles in July and has refused for almost a year to return to six-country talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme in exchange for aid and pledges not to attack it.

''I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il is going to try to muddle through, otwithstanding the horror it brings to his own people,'' Richard Armitage said in an interview with a small group of reporters.

''I think they are likely to wait it out until the next administration,'' said Armitage, an Asia expert who left his post last year as US deputy secretary of state.

''I think the North Koreans are of the opinion that we are mired down in Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran, that we can't be very innovative and flexible with them.'' Speaking earlier during his visit to Seoul, he speculated that as part of the North's process of escalating tensions it may test a nuclear weapon before the end of the year.

In February 2005 the North declared itself a nuclear weapons power, without testing.

The Bush administration has been pressing countries to live up to the terms of a UN Security Council resolution passed after the missile launch. The resolution calls on member states to halt trade that helps the North's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.

The United States and South Korea last month agreed to change a key part of their more than 50-year-old military alliance and turn wartime control of South Korea's troops from Washington back to Seoul.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has come under intense criticism at home over the move, with several former defence ministers saying it would weaken South Korea's security by reducing the US military's commitment to the country.

Armitage also had reservations about the shift, saying it could weaken the alliance's ability to deter the North.

''The North Koreans have a very good idea of what is going on. They will exploit a weakness if they see one.''

REUTERS