The Chinese are saying they aren't aware of any such statement, sure, but my understanding was that the alleged statement was made in private during a break in the official talks.

That may be a convenient way to get around verification, but it does mean that China isn't really in a position to deny that the North Koreans didn't make the claim.

Matt:

Except that now both the Chinese and the South Koreans have cast doubt on the claim. The South last week made the point that the translation used by Washington was possibly incorrect.

Lying & erroneous translations work for the Bushies, so they keep doing it. You'd be hard press to find many journos & any member of the public who actually know, let alone believe, that the Bushies lie.

Do you seriously propose that we believe the insidious, devious, wily Orientals, sons of Confucius, heirs of four thousand years of spying, cunning, slyness, and double dealing, over our own President and his administration and its impeccable reputation for truth?

Me, too.

I'm living in South Korea and keep up with this. Apparently Kelly heard twice from the North Koreans that they have nukes. Therefore either North Korea is lying about what they said or Bush is lying. Go to www.kcna.co.jp and www.whitehouse.gov and compare both propaganda organs. There's no way to tell really who is and isn't lying. Read Pravda and you find out the North Koreans have had nukes since 1991, have had a nuke programs since the late 50's, and according to some former soviet generals - may have had the first bomb test in 1986.

Next, if you would read the papers of Dr. Kim Myung Chol - A Japanese Korean who actually makes correct predictions about North Korea's plans, he
explains the 1993-4 treaty was made by Clinton because he expected the regime to collapse before the reactors would be delivered and built. The US broke 4 articles of the treaty before North Korea did. Kim Jong Il knew this would happen and did this in hopes that the US would act as it has so that he could get a non-agression pact. Kim Jong Il wants legitimacy for his regime and money to continue his Juche Socialism. Anyway, it would be easier to just give Kim Jong Il what he wants and hope he doesn't blackmail everyone more. I'm sure the people 60 kilometers North of me that are experiencing things you can read about at www.nis.go.kr (North Korean Defectors Testimonies) will be grateful to the Dear Leader.
In short, Kim Jong Il is much smarter than Bush or Clinton, and both sides will continue to be tricked because of their arrogance.
That's an opinion from someone in range of the 40,000 artillery shells aimed where I'm typing from. *American, 21* Seoul, Seodaemun-gu, daeshin-dong Republic of Korea, Korean Language Institute Student, Yonsei University