U.S. Weighs Reward if North Korea Scraps Nuclear Arms

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 — The Bush administration, which had barred concessions to North Korea before it dismantled its nuclear weapons program, is now considering some conciliatory steps. In return, North Korea would have to either fully disclose its weapons or allow international inspectors into the country, administration officials said today.

Possible concessions include some form of written assurance that the United States has no intention of attacking North Korea and some relaxation of curbs on activities by international institutions to help the North with its economic problems, the officials said.

An administration official said the United States might even be prepared to offer economic incentives, an idea it previously disparaged in connection with the Clinton administration's 1994 deal to freeze North Korea's nuclear program, which the North subsequently breached.

But, the official added, economic benefits would come only after the dismantling of the nuclear program. "There's no such thing as you-do-this and suddenly Ed McMahon shows up with a check for $10 billion," the official said.

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