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Major Role Demanded

MOSCOW () -- Russia wants a major role in reforming North Korea's nuclear program and will not agree to be a "junior brother" in an international consortium being set up to create a new program, an official said Wednesday.


Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Panov told Itar-Tass that Russia might refuse to join if it is relegated to a secondary role.


The consortium was proposed last year by the United States, Japan and South Korea to help North Korea transfer its nuclear program from heavy- to light-water reactors and dispel fears Pyongyang was developing a nuclear bomb.


Russia, China, France, Germany and Australia were invited to join.

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