Candidates cautious on North Korea

The major presidential candidates are taking a wait-and-see stance on President Bush's declaration this morning that he will lift key trade sanctions and remove North Korea from the US terrorism blacklist after the regime's moves to shut down its nuclear weapons program.

Democrat Barack Obama issued a statement saying while the move is “a step forward," many more steps remain and "critical questions remain unanswered."

"We still have not verified the accuracy of the North Korean declaration," the statement continued. "We must confirm the full extent of North Korea's past plutonium production. We must also confirm its uranium enrichment activities, and get answers to disturbing questions about its proliferation activities with other countries, including Syria."

Congress, he said, should take the next 45 days to study the declaration. "Sanctions are a critical part of our leverage to pressure North Korea to act. They should only be lifted based on North Korean performance. If the North Koreans do not meet their obligations, we should move quickly to re-impose sanctions that have been waived, and consider new restrictions going forward.

“We should continue to pursue the kind of direct and aggressive diplomacy with North Korea that can yield results," Obama says. "The objective must be clear: the complete and verifiable elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, which only expanded while we refused to talk. As we move forward, we must not cede our leverage in these negotiations unless it is clear that North Korea is living up to its obligations."

McCain issued a statement calling the announcement today "a modest step forward."

"It is important to remember our goal has been the full, permanent and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he continued. "That must remain our goal. The Six Party agreement called for North Korea to make a full declaration of all its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs. Many questions remain about North Korea’s programs, including the disposition of plutonium at Yongbyon, the number and status of nuclear weapons, the nature of the highly-enriched uranium program, and the extent of proliferation activities in countries like Syria. I also want to make sure we fully account for the legitimate concerns of our South Korean and Japanese allies as we move forward. I understand certain sanctions were lifted today, some may be lifted in 45 days, and others remain in place.

“As we review this declaration and attempt to verify North Korean claims, we must keep diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to meet all of its obligations under the Six Party agreement, including denuclearization. If we are unable to fully verify the declaration submitted today and if I am not satisfied with the verification mechanisms developed, I would not support the easing of sanctions on North Korea.”